Daneshvar Medicine: Basic and Clinical Research Journal
Year:2018 | Volume:25 | Issue:136 |Papers Count:8

Background and Objective: Approximately 13-18. 4% of pregnant women experience depression during pregnancy. There is currently not much information about the relationship between exercise during pregnancy and depressive symptoms in healthy pregnant women The present study assessed the effects of a prenatal exercise program on Edinburgh depression questionnaire score. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 healthy pregnant women (age ≥ 18 years; gestational age 21-24 weeks) were divided into two groups in the experimental group (n=50) and in the control group (n=50). The experimental group was offered a 12-week exercise program (standard recommendations and included both aerobic and strength training) between 20 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, under supervision, every two weeks. They were encouraged to do exercise program at home three days a week. The control group received routine antenatal care. The primary outcome was symptoms of depression assessed by the Edinburgh Depression Inventory at the first interview and immediately after the 12-week intervention. Results: The comparison of mean and standard deviation of the Edinburgh Depression Inventory in the two groups before intervention showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p<0. 10). After the 12-week intervention, as compared to the control group, the exercise group showed significantly reduced depressive symptoms on the Edinburgh Depression Inventory (p<0. 01). Comparison of subtraction of mean and standard deviation of Edinburgh depression scores before and after intervention indicates a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p<0. 001). Conclusion: Exercise during pregnancy reduces depressive symptoms. It is recommended to promote exercise and physical activity in pregnancy as a useful measure for the physical and mental health of pregnant women.

Background and Objective: Exercise training and coenzyme Q10 supplementation may be effective in reducing the pre-inflammatory and increasing the anti-inflammatory agents in patients with multiple sclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of eight weeks of combined exercise training with resistance dominance along with coenzyme Q10 supplementation on serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in these patients. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental research, twenty-eight patients with multiple sclerosis were randomly divided into three experimental groups (training+supplement, training+placebo, supplement) and one control (placebo) group. In two exercise training groups, the patients performed a combined training program including three sessions per week (two resistance sessions and one aerobic session) for eight weeks, and in two groups of supplement consumer, they took 200 mg of supplement of coenzyme Q10 daily. Before and after training period, serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were measured and the data were analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk's, analysis of covararience and paired samples t-test at a significant level of p˂ 0. 05. Results: Based on the ANCOVA result on post-test values, the difference of the groups was not significant together (p˃ 0. 05). Also, the results of paired samples t-test indicated no significant differences in serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in any of the groups as compared to the pre-intervention (p˃ 0. 05). Conclusion: Eight-week combined training and coenzyme Q10 supplementation do not cause significant changes in serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10.

Background and Objective: Contusion injury causes a major variety of functional and sensory disorders. In this research, we tried to study histological changes after performing contusion model in spinal cord. For this reason, we investigated the effect of acetyl L-carnitine on gliosis reaction by using immunohistochemistry method for GFAP and CNPase after spinal cord injury(SCI). Materials and Methods: In this study, 24 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Laminectomy at T9-T11 was done in all of the rats and based on control groups or study groups, normal saline or acetyl Lcarnitine (300 mg/kg) was injected. In study groups, SCI was done by 30 gr compression. After 4 weeks, spinal cords were extracted for morphometry and immunohistochemistry study and data were analyzed using t test and ANOVA at p<0. 05. Results: Motoneurons reduced after SCI and acetyl L-carnitine reduced this reduction in addition to reduction of astrocytes (p<0. 05). Conclusion: For the first time it was shown that in gliosis reaction, acetyl Lcarnitine could reduce astrocytes and increase oligodendrocytes (about 3 times) and this improvement may be due to myelin production and also due to better conduction. Further study is needed to distinguish synapse conduction.

Background and Objective: Physical activity during pregnancy is one of the factors that have beneficial effects on the health of the mother and fetus. This study aimed to determine the pattern of physical activity in nulliparous pregnant women referred to Shaheed Mostafa Khomeini hospital. Materials and Methods: This study was an analytical cross-sectional study that was conducted on 268 healthy nulliparous women in Mostafa Khomeini hospital. The survey tool was a standard questionnaire of physical activity during pregnancy. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16). Results: Only 36. 2% of cases had walking pattern in accordance to the guidelines. A significant percentage of the daily activities of the subjects involved house work, mainly in the form of sitting activities (7. 34 ± 2. 60). The average time spent on sports activities was their least daily activity (0. 14 ± 0. 08 day/hour). Major activities of mothers were light and inactive. Generally, normal delivery was 30. 6% of all deliveries. In 58. 6% of subjects, weight gain during pregnancy was greater than recommended rate. There was a significant relationship between the type of delivery and physical activity and sport, so that those who had more walking had a higher probability of normal delivery (p= 0. 03). Conclusion: The results of this study support the positive effects of physical activity during pregnancy. However, due to its low popularity in the pregnant women, the appropriate approach is required from relevant institutions including universities and pregnancy care centers.

Background and Objective: Alopecia Areata (AA) is characterized by an autoimmune hair loss usually, but not limited to, the scalp, affecting approximately 1-2% of the general population. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown, it is known that TNFα-308G/A polymorphism can influence the development of AA. The aim of this study was to investigate TNF-α (rs1800629) in patients with Alopecia Areata. Materials and Methods: This study included 30 AA patients and 15 healthy subjects. Genomic DNA was isolated using DNG plus method and DNA was amplified by PCR-RFLP to detect TNFα-308G/A polymorphism. Furthermore, association of this TNFα-308G/A with demographic factors was assessed. Results: PCR-RFLP results showed that GG was the most frequent genotype in both patient and control groups (P= 0. 816). GA genotype was detected in 30% and 20% of patients and controls, respectively (P= 0. 477). Genotype AA was detected in 6. 7% of controls. Conclusion: The results of TNFα-308G/A polymorphism showed no significant difference with respect to AA disease and demographic factors (p>0. 05).

Objective: In this study, inhibitory effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil on superoxide and nitric oxide production and NADH oxidase (NOX) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression was examined. Materials and Methods: Zataria essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation and chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Superoxide and nitric oxide scavenging effects of zataria essential oil were tested by biochemical assays. Then, LPS-stimulated macrophages were treated by different concentrations of essential oil and expression of superoxide-producing enzyme and nitric oxide-producing enzyme was investigated by Real-time PCR, also superoxide anion and nitric oxide levels was examined by biochemical assays. Results: The main components of the zataria essential oil were linalool (32. 9%), carvacrol (26. 7%), thymol (12. 5%), p-Cymene (4. 5%) and α-Pinene (2%). Zataria essential oil sequestered superoxide anion (O2-) and nitric oxide (NO) in in vitro assay at low concentrations of 70-100 μ g/ml. Zataria essential oil at noncytotoxic level strongly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Superoxideproducing enzyme and NO producing enzyme expression in LPS-stimulated murine macrophage (cell line J774) was declined by zataria essential oil. Conclusion: Due to the results, the in vivo antioxidant activity of zataria essential oil may be attributed to down-production of NO and superoxide and also down-regulation of NOS and NOX expression.

Background and Objective: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most frequently occurring entity among autoimmune bullous skin diseases. Although the genetic determinants of BP have not been precisely elucidated, some studies have shown an association between a mutation in Exon 10 of COL17A1 gene (rs805708) and BP disease susceptibility. Yet, these findings had so far not been independently replicated, and no data on a possible association of these mutations and BP in Iranian population were available. Materials and Methods: This study contained 20 BP patients and 20 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was isolated using DNG-plus. The mutation in Exon 10 of COL17A1 gene (rs805708) was evaluated by using tetra-primer ARMS PCR method. Several relevant information such as demographic data (age, gender, and so forth) or clinical characteristics were analyzed for a possible effect of these factors on susceptibility to BP in patients. Results: The results of the mutation in Exon 10 of COL17A1 gene (rs805708) showed no significant difference between patients and controls (p>0. 05). Conclusion: Comparison of mutant genotype in a mutation in Exon 10 of COL17A1 gene (rs805708) showed no significant difference. These results show that the genetic predisposition to develop BP can greatly varies among different ethnic groups.