International Journal of Basic Science in Medicine
Year:2018 | Volume:3 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Obesity is a prominent global concern, which is correlated with several chronic diseases and associated mortalities. Social determinants and environmental factors play an important role in the adoption of certain behaviors that cause obesity and related health issues. This makes obesity a complex public health issue dependent on several physiological, pathobiological, and psychological phenomena. Here we aimed to review the complex interrelationship between the social determinants, behavioral factors, and obesity. The literature search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases using keywords of “ obesity” and/or “ multimorbidity” and/or “ chronic diseases” along with “ social factors” , “ social determinants” , “ social determinants of health” , “ cultural factors” , and “ Environmental factors” . We found the importance of school-based programs in prevention of obesity through behavioral modification. Educational programs and incentives and their impact on obesity and diabetes at the community level were demonstrated. Social factors and health behaviors significantly predicted body mass index (BMI) with gender-specific variations. Furthermore, psychological, emotional, and social experiences of the individuals with obesity had a drastic effect on their mental and physical health. It is apparent that the social factors influence the relations between BMI and weight-related behaviors and outcomes. To understand the mechanisms behind obesity, both quantitative and qualitative methods should be applied in order to examine the overt as well as cognitive aspects of the complex relationships described here.

Introduction: Currently, there is great interest in phytochemicals as bioactive components. The roles of fruits, vegetables, and red pigments in preventing diseases have been partially attributed to the antioxidant features of their constituent polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and so on. Methods: Biochemistry parameters including the relative levels of antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, total flavonoid, total anthocyanin, and soluble and insoluble sugar contents of Ribes khorasanicum were measured. Results: The total phenolic and flavonoid content of the fruits were calculated as 33. 6 mg/g dry weight and 23. 36 mg/g dry weight, respectively. Anthocyanin was measured as 62. 9 mg/g dry weight, indicting anthocyanin as the predominant antioxidant component in this plant. The content of soluble sugar was 5. 65 mg/g dry weight, while the amount of insoluble sugar was 4. 60 mg/g dry weight. The 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was observed to be 6. 42 mg/g dry weight. Conclusion: Anthocyanin was the predominant antioxidant component in the investigated plant. This particular plant has the potential to serve as an important source of anthocyanin which is useful in medicinal and food industries.

Introduction: Due to drug resistance and toxic side effects observed following administration of many antibacterial drugs, novel strategies are highly needed for treatment of bacterial diseases. Chitosan, as an important immune system stimulator, is found in cockroaches that are living in contaminated sites. The aim of this study was to extract the chitosan from nymph and adult stage of both Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana and to evaluate its antibacterial and antifungal activities. Methods: The mature form of B. germanica and the nymph and adult forms of P. americana were killed by CO2 gas, and washed and dried at 60º C. Then, they were mechanically ground in a mixer and passed through 20 mesh size. Finally, chitosan was extracted from shrimp processing discards. Chitosan was dissolved in lactic acid 1% and its effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholerae, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus were evaluated. Results: Chitosan extracted from cockroaches showed antibacterial effects on gram-positive bacteria especially S. aureus and E. coli. However, it had no impact on fungi. Conclusion: The findings of the current study revealed that chitosan had excellent antibacterial activities.

Introduction: Recent evidence has shown that acute exercise affects the immune response in healthy individuals. However, the effect of aerobic exercise on inflammatory markers in smokers has not been well studied. This study evaluated acute and recovery responses of inflammatory cytokines to moderate aerobic exercise in male smokers. Methods: For this purpose, 15 sedentary male smokers and 15 male non-smokers matched for age and body mass index (BMI) performed aerobic exercise involving 40-minute running at 70% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). Blood samples were obtained pre-exercise (baseline), immediately post exercise (zero), as well as 60 minutes and 24 hours after exercise for analysis of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α ) levels. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16. 0 and one-way analysis variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures. Results: No differences were observed for baseline IL-1β between smokers and non-smokers. However, serum TNF-α level was significantly higher in smokers (75. 1 ± 14. 3) than in nonsmokers (37. 2 ± 9. 11) at baseline (P = 0. 01). Aerobic exercise significantly reduced TNF-α level immediately after exercise (58. 9 ± 11. 6), and at 60 minutes (50. 1 ± 14. 8), and 24 hours (53. 44 ± 12. 3) post exercise in comparison with baseline (P = 0. 02) in smokers. TNF-α levels remained significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers immediately, 60 minutes, and 24 hours post exercise. IL-1β levels revealed no significant differences between smokers and nonsmokers at baseline, immediately, 60 minutes, and 24 hours post exercise. Furthermore, exercise did not significantly affect acute or recovery changes of TNF-α and IL-1β in non-smokers. Conclusion: In conclusion, based on acute and recovery responses of serum TNF-α to exercise, it seems that a moderate aerobic exercise may reveal beneficial effects on inflammatory profile in smokers.

Introduction: Donor recruitment is an essential step in blood banking. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate donor deferral rate, causes of deferrals, and characteristics of deferred individuals in Kurdistan province located in west of Iran. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Kurdistan Blood Transfusion Center from 2010 to 2015. A total of 175845 donors were selected to be screened. They were physically examined and detailed interviews were conducted with all the donors. In addition, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were used for donor selection and deferral. Results: According to the obtained results, the deferral rate was 14. 55% (25 586 out of 175 845). The top 7 deferral reasons included the use of certain medications (n = 3996, 15. 6%), abnormal blood pressure (n = 2311, 9. 03%), polycythemia (n = 2177, 8. 5%), risky behaviors (n = 1848, 7. 2%), previous donation in the last 3 months (n = 1512, 5. 9%), history of repeatedly reactive tests for infectious agents (n = 1334, 5. 21%), and anemia (n = 1243, 4. 85%). Meanwhile, the overall rate of deferral was higher in donors <35 years old (P < 0. 001), females (P < 0. 001), firsttime donors (P < 0. 001), unmarried (P < 0. 001), and less than 12 years of schooling (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that the main reason for deferral was related to medications. Therefore, public education regarding health requirements of blood donors can be effective in reducing the number of deferrals.

Introduction: Regarding the increasing applications of nanomedicine in clinical practice, we aimed to assess the antibacterial and anti-fungal effects of nanocomposite complexes of titanium (IV) and aluminum (III). Methods: 8-hydroxyquinoline and 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline were treated with titanium (IV) and Aluminum (III) alkoxide reagents to generate (Q)2(2-BuO) Al (Q = 8-hydroxyquinoline and 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline) and (Q)2(O-iPr)2Ti (Q = 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline) complexes. These active complexes were grafted on MCM-41 mesoporous silica in order to improve the overall toxicity and stability of them. Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities of the compounds were assessed. Results: The prepared materials were stable both under air and high temperature (at least up to 200° C). These nanocomposites were well dispersed in water. It was observed that (Q-Cl)2Ti@MCM-41 nanocomposite had anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations of 50, 75 and 120 ppm while at the 75, and 120 ppm concentrations against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. The Q2Al@MCM-41 weakly inhibited the bacterial growth of E. coli at 75 and 120 ppm concentrations. (Q-Cl)2Al@MCM-41 did not show any antibacterial activity at any concentration. Moreover, (Q-Cl)2Ti@MCM-41 and (Q-Cl)2Al@MCM-41 showed considerable anti-fungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 50, 75, 120, and 150 ppm concentrations. The nanoparticles partly inhibited the growth of Kluyveromyces marxianus and Macrophomina phaseolina fungi at 150 ppm concentration. Conclusion: The results showed that the anti-microbial (bacterium and fungi) effect of the titanium and aluminum nanocomposite complexes can be improved in the solid state using appropriate chlorine substituent on the 8-hydroxyquinoline ligand and grafting to the mesoporous silica.

Introduction: Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) and its mammalian orthologue RF amide-related peptide (RFRP) are known to inhibit the secretion of gonadotropins. In addition, substance P (SP), a member of tachykinin’ s family, can increase the firing rate of kisspeptin/ neurokinin B/dynorphin (KNDy) neurons and provoke the secretion of gonadotropins. In this experimental study, we investigated the effects of co-administration of RFRP-3 and SP on the expression of KISS-1 and GnRH genes, as gonadotropin regulator genes, in male rats. Methods: Forty-two mature Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 7 groups (n=6 in each group). Animals in each group intracerebroventricularly received either saline+DMSO, SP (1nmol), RFRP-3 (5 nmol), SP (1nmol) + RFRP-3 (5 nmol), SP (1 nmol) + RF9 (RFRP-3 receptor antagonist, 10 nmol), SP (1 nmol) + P234 (kisspeptin receptor antagonist, 1 nmol) + RFRP-3 (5 nmol), or SP (1 nmol) + CP-96, 345 (SP receptor antagonist, 5 nmol) + RFRP-3 (5 nmol). Two hours after injections, hypothalamic samples were collected to evaluate the expression of target genes by real-time PCR. Results: Injections in SP and SP + RF9 groups increased the expression of both GnRH and KISS-1 genes (P < 0. 05). Injections in RFRP-3 and SP + RFRP-3 + CP-96, 345 groups significantly decreased the expression of GnRH and KISS-1 genes (P < 0. 05). However, injections of SP + RFRP-3 and SP + RFRP-3 + P234 did not significantly change the expression of GnRH and KISS-1 genes. Conclusion: The results of our study indicated that SP antagonized the effects of RFRP-3 in the expression of hypothalamic KISS-1 and GnRH genes.

Introduction: Introducing neurotrophic factors is among several new approaches to enhance neural resistance to ischemic condition. Cancer cells such as 4T1 (an invasive breast carcinoma cell line) are the most potent cells with high viability in transplanted area. The 4T1 cells are derived from spontaneous tumors in BALB/c mouse with their pathogenicity which is limited to this animal. Sertoli cells (SCs) can be a proper candidate for increasing the survival of transplanted cells. The SCs not only suppress the immune system, but also secret many growth factors which increase neural survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible neuroprotective effect of 4T1 transplantation on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model alone and in combination with SCs co-transplantation. Methods: Rats were categorized into 5 experimental groups as follows: control, sham, SCs, 4T1, and 4T1+SCs treated groups. For transplanting cells into right striatum, stereotaxic surgery was performed. In addition, ischemic surgery was induced after three days. Twenty-four hours after the reperfusion, neurological severity score (NSS), infarct volume, brain edema, and bloodbrain barrier (BBB) permeability were assessed in different areas of the brain including cortex, striatum, and piriform cortex-amygdala (Pir-Amy). Results: The SCs, 4T1, and SCs+4T1 cells co-transplantation ameliorated neurological deficits and reduced infarct volume, brain edema, and BBB permeability compared to the control group. Conclusion: Transplanting 4T1 cancer cell along with SCs as a source of neurotrophic factors enhanced neural survival providing a potential new approach in cell therapy.