Daneshvar Medicine: Basic and Clinical Research Journal
Year:2019 | Volume:27 | Issue:142 |Papers Count:7

Background and Objective: Considering anti-aging and preventive effects of exercise and nutritional interventions, the present study was carried out to demonstrate combined effects of 12 weeks of Pilates exercise training and daily turmeric supplementation on serum Klotho level and health-related quality of life in overweight middle-aged women. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight post-menopausal overweight women were selected and randomly divided into four groups of Pilates exercise, turmeric supplementation, combination of both and control. Each Pilates training session (12 weeks, three sessions per week) consisted of 45 minutes of exercise with an intensity of 40-80% heart rate reserve. The supplementation contract included daily receiving 2, 100 mg of turmeric powder. Blood samples were obtained 48 hours before and after the intervention and serum Klotho levels were measured. HRQL was assessed using short form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire, completed before and after intervention. Results: Results showed that 12 weeks of Pilates training with and without turmeric supplementation significantly increased Klotho levels and improved HRQL, physical health, mental health and social function, but turmeric supplementation alone and did not have significant effect on these factors (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Collectively, this study highlights the beneficial effects of Pilates exercise training, but not turmeric supplementation, on Klotho level and HRQL in middle-aged women.

Background and Objective: Nobiletin is a flavonoid in the citrus. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties of nobiletin have been observed in many recent studies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of nobiletin on apoptosis in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease induced by intranigral injection of lipopolysaccharide in the rat. Materials and Methods: Male rats (n = 28) were divided into four groups: sham, sham under treatment with nobiletin, lesion, and lesion treated with nobiletin. To achieve unilateral lesion of the nigrostriatal system, rats received 5 microgram of LPS into the right substantia nigra. Nobiletin was daily administered p. o. at a dose of 10 mg/kg one hour after surgery for one week. At the end of the first week, tissue homogenate was prepared and severity of apoptosis was measured. Results: The results showed that treatment with nobiletin decreases the level of DNA fragmentation in the LPS group as compared to the LPS group in midbrain area (p <0. 05). Conclusion: Administration of nobiletin to lipopolysaccharide-induced Parkinsonian rats reduces apoptosis and may be potentially effective for ancillary therapy of Parkinson's disease.

Background and Objective: Monoclonal antibodies against 4-1BB have been used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, viral infections, as well as immunotherapy of cancers. Because of their foreign nature and the large size, the murine monoclonal antibodies have restricted efficacy in clinical use. Fully human antibody fragments such as scFv fragments can be an attractive alternative for immunotherapeutic applications. The aim of this study was the production of human scFv antibodies against 4-1BB in order to use it in cancer immunotherapy. Materials and Methods: In this study, anti-4-1BB scFv gene was cloned in pET-22(+) and expression in E. coli TOP 10F. The initial analysis of the gene product was performed by western blot and ELISA. Furthermore, its efficacy in stimulating 4-1BB expressing cells was evaluated by assessing the cell surface expression of CD69 and IL-2 mRNA and protein expression. Results: The results showed that the designed scFv gene was well expressed in E. coli and specifically reacts to the target antigen. The CCRF-CEM cell’ treatment with anti-4-1BB scFv induced IL-2 production and increased CD69 expression on the surface of target cells. Conclusion: The anti-4-1BB single-chain antibody was successfully expressed in E. coli expression system and is able to detect target antigen and activate CCRF-CEM cells. This recombinant antibody could be useful for T cell activation in cancer cell therapy approaches.

Background and Objective: Neuroinflammation plays a pivotal role in the development of diabetic neuropathic pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on HMGB1 protein levels and some oxidative stress biomarkers in a rat model of diabetic neuropathic pain. Materials and Methods: 40 male Wistar rats (weighing 220 ± 10. 2 g) were randomly divided into four groups: diabetic neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy + exercise, healthy exercise, and healthy control. Diabetes was induced by STZ injection (50 mg/kg). After confirming the development of diabetes neuropathy by behavioral tests, exercise groups received 6 weeks of continuous aerobic exercise with an average intensity of 15 m/min for 30 minutes on a treadmill. Serum levels of HMGB1 were measured by ELISA and malondialdehyde (MAD) concentrations and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes in spinal cord were determined by biochemical methods. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Aerobic exercise significantly reduced the serum level of HMGB1 protein and MDA concentration and increased the activity of SOD and CAT enzymes compared to diabetic neuropathy group (p <0. 05). Also, HMGB1 levels and MDA increased and the activity of SOD and CAT enzymes decreased in the diabetic neuropathy group (p <0. 05). Conclusion: Aerobic exercise seems to modify the HMGB1 protein levels and oxidative stress and improve the sensitivity of the nociceptors to painful agents. It is suggested that aerobic exercise be used as a non-prescriptive therapeutic intervention for diabetic patients to reduce neuropathic pain.

Background and Objective: Recently, high intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous moderate training (CMT) have been of interest in fields of exercise physiology and cardiovascular health. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of 8-week HIIT and CMT on left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and end systolic diameter (LVEDs), and ventricular relative wall thickness (RWT) and aerobic power among inactive men. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, 21 sedentary men (78. 6 ± 2. 1 kg, height: 175. 5 ± 1. 8 cm, age: 25 ± 1. 21 years) participated in this study. Subjects were divided into control (CON), HIIT and CMT groups. CMT (constant load was 2 watts. kg-1) and HIIT (30 seconds with a load of 3. 6 watts. kg-1body weight and 120 seconds with 1. 4 watts. kg-1body weight) performed isocaloric training protocols for 8 weeks (on stationary bike). Echocardiography and Vo2max tests were performed before and after protocols. Collected data were analyzed after normality examination (Wilk-Shapiro). One-way ANOVA was used for further analysis. Results: Our findings showed that LVEDd in HIIT significantly increases when compared with CON (P = 0. 03) after training. LVEDs in CMT significantly increased when compared with HIIT (P = 0. 04) and CON (P = 0. 02). RWT in both HIIT and CMT was significantly higher than CON (P = 0. 03 and P = 0. 04, respectively). Vo2max in both groups significantly increased when compared with CON (P = 0. 03 and P = 0. 04, respectively). Conclusion: It is suggested that HIIT may play protective role in decreasing myocardial workload through increasing LVEDd and venous return in inactive men.

Background and Objective: Venom of Mesobuthus in the family buthidae can result in death in humans according to the performed studies. On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that due to anti-inflammatory properties of cyclosporine in organ transplantation through suppression of the immune system and inflammation, it could counteract venom effect. Therefore, in this study, the effect of cyclosporine on Mesobuthus eupeus venom was evaluated. Materials and Methods: This was an experimental study. For this purpose, fifty mice were classified into five groups, each group consisting of ten mice. Mesobuthus venom and cyclosporine were used at three doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg. In this study, the mice which did not receive cyclosporine were considered as control group. Biochemical features plus nitric oxide and IL-2 cytokine were measured in all groups using routine methods (i. e. spectrophotometer and ELISA assay, respectively). Also, pathological examination of liver and kidney was performed. Results: All the studied biochemical and IL-2 levels were significantly elevated after mesobuthus venom injection On the other hand, groups which received cyclosporine showed a significant decrease in all the studied parameters (P<0. 001). Conclusion: Cyclosporine at a dose of 30 mg is able to decrease inflammatory responses and it could be a suitable therapeutic drug in patients who are bitten by scorpion sting.