International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Year:2018 | Volume:16 | Issue:4|Papers Count:7

Background: There are limited numbers of experimental studies related to the potential role of parathormone/parathyroid hormone (PTH) in response to psychological stress. In the current study, we aimed to cross-examine, for the first time, changes in PTH plasma concentration and the expression of its molecular targets mediated by restraint stress in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 42) were separated into control and stressed groups. They were further divided into two groups that received chronic restraint stress (CRS) for 7and28 consecutive days (n=7 for each group). Elevated plusmazeandtail suspension test were used to determine the anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors of a different set of rats including stress and control groups (n = 7 for each group). The plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, and intact parathormone (iPTH) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, alterations in the expressions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), calcium sensing receptor (CaSR), and parathormone receptor (PTHR1) of kidney and total thyroid gland tissues were estimated byWestern Blotting. Results: There was no significant difference in the plasma level of iPTH while significant increases in the levels of ACTH and corticosterone were noted in the stressed-animals at day 7 and 21 (P = 0. 010 and P = 0. 016, respectively) of restraint stress. However, we found a negative correlation between iPTH and corticosterone levels in acute restraint stress (r = 0. 771, P = 0. 002). In addition, the expression of PTHR1 significantly decreased in the kidney at day 7 (P = 0. 001) and in the thyroid gland at day 28 (P = 0. 05) in response to CRS. Conclusions: To sum up, CRS has a significant effect on the expression of parathormone receptor rather than the iPTH concentration. The present results add a new dimension to stress research through the negative effect of chronic stress on the PTH signaling pathway.

Background: Adolescence is the most difficult period to control and manage type 1 diabetes (T1D), and various perceptions, enablers, and nurturers influence self-care behaviors in these patients. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting self-care performance in adolescents with T1D, according to the PEN-3 cultural model. Methods: In this study, in-depth interviews were conducted initially with 26 participants, and one group discussion was held with 13 participants. Assessment domains of the PEN-3 model (key influence on health behaviors and impact of behavior on health) guided the analysis of qualitative study and focus group data. Finally, the data were classified to a 3 3 table, based on the PEN-3 model. Results: The most common positive PEN included awareness of self-care behaviors, attitude towards the disease, impact of spirituality on self-care, easy access to needed medical services, and maternal support. The negative PEN included attitude of patients and parents towards reasons of becoming sick (why me), awareness about the disease and its causes, low self-efficacy, limited training, high cost of blood glucose test strips, lack of educational therapeutic curricula based on spirituality, ignoring the role of spirituality in treatment and self-care, and conflict between parents and patients. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used to guide the development of cultural group therapy interventions aimed at increasing adherence to self-care behaviors among Iranian adolescents with T1D.

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The aim of this study was to identify the highly expressed genes in terms of interaction concept in Prolactinoma. The study was conducted by additional analysis of the available data from the GEO database. The online tool, GEO2R, was used to analyze the gene expression profile of GSE36314 dataset using the GPL8300 platform. Consequently, a PPI network of up-regulated and downregulated genes was constructed and examined to introduce the possible targets with possible therapeutic values. A number of 46 genes were dysregulated in Prolactinoma and their network indicated 15 essential genes via topological analysis. Moreover, the present study found that the highlighted genes of prolactinoma are involved in two major biological processes including growth regulation and metabolic function. Thus, the determined genes may be valuable for diagnosis, treatment, and patient follow-up. However, further studies are essential to validate this conclusion.

Background: The use of exercise along with green tea supplements has been shown to have beneficial effects on obesity and its complications. Objectives: This study aimed at exploring the effect of aerobic training (AT) and green tea (GT) supplementation on body composition, blood lipids, blood glucose, and cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese females. Methods: Thirty-nine healthy non-athlete overweight and obese females with an average age of 28. 11  6. 50 years were sampled and randomly assigned to control (n = 13), AT (n = 13), and AT + GT (n = 13). Participants of the latter group received 33 mg of green tea after each main meal every day, and in addition, they were subjected to AT for eight weeks, including three 90-minute training sessions that were progressive, reaching 80% of the target heart rate (THR). Blood samples were taken from participants one week before the initiation of the study and 48 hours after the last training session. Results: Comparedto the control group, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, blood pressure, and heart rate (HR) significantly decreased in the groups treated with AT and AT + GT (P < 0. 05). However, no significant changes occurred in FBS, HDL, TC, and WHR (P > 0. 05). Conclusions: AT was effective in modifying cardiovascular risk factors, e. g. hypertension, heart rate (HR), triglyceride, and lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL). However, GT addition was not effective. Considering Iranians’ high tendency towards the consumption of plant materials, this finding needs further investigation.

Background: The link between age specific-rates of thyroid cancer (TC) and human development index (HDI) and also its components can be a new direction for planning by policy makers. Objectives: This study aimed at identifying the relationship between TC rates by gender, and HDI and its components in different regions of the world. Methods: An ecological study was conducted; the data was obtained from the GLOBOCAN project in 2012. Inequality in TC estimates (age-specific incidence and mortality rates), according to the HDI and its components was calculated. Concentration index (CI) was used to estimate inequality and CI was decomposed to determine contribution of HDI and its components in inequality. Results: The inequality index (CI) was 0. 29 (95% CI: 0. 21-0. 38) and-0. 15 (95% CI:-0. 23-0. 06) for incidence and mortality of TC by HDI, respectively. The important contributors in inequality for incidence rates of TC were life expectancy at birth (0. 30), mean years of schooling (0. 26), and expected years of schooling (0. 18). The important contributors in inequality of mortality rates were mean years of schooling (0. 19), expected years of schooling (0. 17), and urbanization (0. 17). Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, global inequalities exist in the TC incidence and mortality rates; incidence rates of TC are more concentrated in countries with high HDI, yet inequality index showed that deaths occurred more in disadvantaged countries.

Background: The first-line strategy for the treatment of obesity is weight loss (WL) through decreasing calorie intake. However, a diet that is capable of attenuating fat free mass decline following WL is preferred. Furthermore, it is required to choose proper measurements and appropriate obesity-assessment indices to monitor weight and body composition during WL program. Methods: A total of 68 adults with overweight and/or obesity underwent aWLprogram (rapid and slow WL). Dependent variables include: weight, resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition, and related measurements such as waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), body adiposity index (BAI), a body shape index (ABSI), fat mass to lean body mass (FM/LBM), and percentage body fat (PBF). Results: Obesity measurements decreased in both groups (all P < 0. 05) while LBM and RMR decreased more in the rapid WL group (P < 0. 05). After age and sex adjustment, a robust correlation was observed between FM/LBM and PBF (r = 0. 918), LBM% and PBF (r =-0. 949), LBM% and FM/LBM (r =-0. 904), WHtR andWC(r = 0. 986), and BAI% and HC (r = 0. 986) (P < 0. 001 for all correlations). FM has the highest correlation with WHtR among other indices (r = 0. 706). Conclusions: Compared to fast WL, our data support that slow and gradual WL is more effective to improve body composition and obesity-assessment indices. The robust relationship was observed between FM and WHtR, among other indices such as BMI or ABSI. Therefore, in order to evaluate FM, where the FM is not measurable, the WHtR might be the reasonable index.