IRANIAN JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM (IJEM)
Year:2018 | Volume:19 | Issue:6 |Papers Count:7

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iso-caloric combinations of exercise and caloric restriction on insulin sensitivity of obese male rats.Materials and Methods: Fifty-six, eight-week-old male Wistar rats (190±16 g) were primarily divided into the obesity (n=48) and healthy groups (n=8) and were fed high-fat and standard palate for seventeen weeks respectively. After obesity induction, the obesity group was randomly assigned to one of six groups, i.e. EXE, CR, EXCR1, EXCR2, and EXCR3 as experimental groups and OC as the control group following which 15% of food intake was reduced. Their exercise intensity was about 70-75% vo2max, 28 m/min for 48 to 55 minutes. Negative energy balance was applied through caloric restriction (CR) (6d/w); exercise training (EXE) (6d/w), in three combinations: EXCR1 (2d/w exercise +4d/w CR, (EXCR2 (3d/w exercise+3d/w CR) and EXCR3 (4d/w exercise+2d/w CR) for two months. One way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc were applied for data analysis by SPSS version 16 (p<0.05).Results: Serum glucose levels of EXE, CR, EXCR1, EXCR2 and EXCR3 significantly decreased compared to the OC group. Plasma CR and EXCR3 insulin were significantly decreased, in comparison to OC insulin level. Compared to OC, insulin sensitivity was significantly elevated in CR and EXCR2.Conclusion: It is concluded that exercise and caloric restriction, both per se and in different combinations reduced obesity elevated induced serum glucose. However caloric restriction and EXCR2 and caloric restriction lead to significant increase in insulin sensitivity. It is recommended to consider equal doses of exercise and caloric restriction which may improve insulin sensitivity.

Introduction: Weakening of the liver antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage play a crucial role in the genesis of hepatocellular damage during diabetic states. Considering to the antioxidant property of rosuvastatin, the aim of present study was to investigate whether rosuvastatin improves antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage of liver tissue in diabetes.Materials and Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6 each), normal, treated normal, diabetic and treated diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced in rats by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg). Treated rats received rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg) daily by a gavage tube for sixty days. At the end, blood samples were collected for measuring blood glucose, and liver tissue was removed to determine malondialdehyde, glutathione and NOx (nitrate and nitrite) contents as well as catalase and superoxide dismutase activities.Results: Induction of diabetes (blood glucose>300 mg/dL) significantly increased the malondialdehyde content (4.00±0.445 mMol/L), compared with the normal group (1.08±0.39 mMol/L), whereas rosuvastatin significantly decreased it (2.42±0.56 mMol/L), without changing blood glucose levels. Diabetes decreased the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase by 81 and 54%, respectively.Treatment with rosuvastatin increased the catalase activity (90%) and glutathione content (65%) in diabetic rats. Also, diabetes significantly decreased the NOx content (15±1 mMol/L), compared to the normal group (34±15 mMol/L), whereas rosuvastatin significantly increased it (61±16 5Mol/L).Conclusion: Our results indicate that rosuvastatin can increase the antioxidant capacity of diabetic liver, and treatment with rosuvastatin may hence improve the tissue and oxidative damages of the liver during diabetic states.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease includes a spectrum of clinical syndromes from early steatosis to liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined extract of silymarin, artichoke and jujube on non-alcoholic fatty liver, induced by high-fat diet in rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were divided randomly into two groups, a sham group (n=8) and a high-fat diet group (n=32). After 4 months of being fed the high-fat diet, rats suffering from fatty liver were divided into 4 groups (n=8 each) including a highfat diet group and the three groups receiving a dose of the combined extract 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for 2 months. Finally, lipid profiles, activity of serum liver enzymes and liver histology were investigated.Results: The high-fat diet increased Chol, TG and LDL and decreased HDL levels (P<0.001). This diet also increased serum activity of ALT, AST and ALP to 84, 113 and 228 %, respectively. Receiving extract at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg improved lipid profiles and hepatic enzyme activity (P<0.05). Histopathology confirmed changes in liver induced by the high fat diet and the protective effect of the extract.Conclusion: High-fat diet induced nonalcoholic fatty liver in rats and treatment with combined extracts of silymarin, artichoke and jujube improved the complications of the disease.

Introduction: Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine and fibrinogen are considered cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of shortterm supplementation of omega-3 on homocysteine and fibrinogen levels in response to a single session of circuit resistance training in non-athlete obese women.Materials and Methods: In a quasi-experimental research with a pretest-postest design, 20 non-athlete women with body mass index& 30 kg/m2 participated as subjects. The participants were divided randomly into two equal groups of 1) placebo and 2) omega-3 supplement. The training intervention consisted of a single session of circuit resistance training at nine stations with intensity of 40% 1RM at the end of one week omega-3/placebo supplementation, consumed orally, 3 capsules (each containing 3000 mg) per day for one week. Blood samples were collected in two phases before and after the resistance training. Plasma levels of homocysteine and fibrinogen were assayed using ELISA methods, and data were analyzed using ANCOVA test (p<0.05).Results: There was a significant difference between the groups at in their postest values of homocysteine (p=0.0001) and fibrinogen (p=0.0001). The omega-3 supplement group showed less increase in the research variables.Conclusion: It is concluded that short-term consumption of the omega-3 supplement may be useful in preventing increase in homocysteine and fibrinogen levels in response to a single session of circuit resistance training in non-athlete obese women.

Introduction: The consumption of junk food as a snack among children, especially in elementary school students is on the rise. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the effects of education based on theory planned behavior (TPB) through role-playing in promoting preventive behaviors among students with high consumption of junk food.Materials and Methods: This quasiexperimental study was carried out on 189 students in the city of Arak (Iran), randomly divided into two, the experimental (n=98) and the control (n=91) groups. Data was gathered with a questionnaire based on the TPB, followed by intervention in 4 sessions, with role playing for the group intervention. Finally after 3 months of data from the two groups was collected and analyzed.Results: Before the intervention, all variables except for the knowledge and subjective norm were not significantly different between the two groups. However after the intervention all structures in the two groups showed statistically significant differences (p<0.01). In this study, the mean practice of students in the intervention group before and after education was 49.93±23.72 and 63.33±17.68 respectively (p<0.001).Conclusion: The educational intervention through role-play based on theory planned behavior, decreased junk food consumption behaviors. Besides such programs, follow up education for controlling andmonitoring are highly recommended.

Introduction: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes show poorer adherence to self-care behaviors, compared with other patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions, enablers, and nurturers related to self-care behaviors in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016, on 120 adolescent participants with type 1 diabetes who had been referred to the Iranian Diabetes Association. Data collection tools were a questionnaire based on the PEN-3 Model and information extracted during interviews and focus group discussions. The questionnaire consisted of four parts (Demographic variables, Perceptions, Enablers, and Nurturers); the validity and reliability of the questionnaire had been approved. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software and descriptive statistics tests.Results: Over 44% of adolescents with type 1 diabetes reported moderate compliance with selfcare behaviors. Insupportable self-care behaviors, denial of disease, expensive blood glucose (blood sugar) test strips, lack of public and private education, lack of attention to spirituality and the spiritual needs of patients in therapeutic programs, conflict with parents and poor communication with other type 1 diabetes patients were the most important perceptions, enablers and nurturers.Conclusions: Focusing more attention on the design of the general education programs, via mass media and dedicated training, increasing government support and health insurance for patients, along with addressing and spiritual needs of patients can help overcome these obstacles.

Introduction: One of the problems among women of reproductive age is premenstrual syndrome, which often interferes with important aspects of life, including family and social relationships. Among factors influencing this syndrome changes in prolactin and levels of prostaglandin E2 have been documented. The purpose of this study therefore was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise and curcumin consumption on these factors.Materials and Methods: In a clinical trial, 40 women with PMS were divided into 4 groups: Exercise, curcumin, training+ curcumin and the placebo groups; training groups did aerobic exercise for 12 weeks, (3 times/week), and other groups, consumed 2 capsules containing 100 mg of curcumin or placebo two times day, from 7 days before menstruation until day 3 of its their period.Results: Results showed that prostaglandin E2 levels were significantly decreased only in the combination group (P=0.005) and while in the other groups there was no significant difference (p>0.01); P values in the training, curcumin, and placebo groups were 0.04, 0.76, 0.33 respectively). Also, none of the interventions caused any significant changes in serum levels of prolactin (p>0.01), (P values in the training, curcumin, combination and placebo groups were 0.1, 0.76, 0.99 and 0.25 respectively).Conclusion: Results of this study showed that taking curcumin and performing aerobic exercise simultaneously reduced the amount of prostaglandin E2, indicating that these two protocols performed simultaneously can be effective in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.