In spite of multiple benefits of physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents, health, as well as for prevention of chronic diseases later in life, detailed data concerning their PAis limited in our community.  To determine the PA duration and intensity, as well as the energy expenditure in adolescents by a simple self-report. This cross-sectional study was performed among 2000 students, ages 11-18, selected by multi-stage random sampling and with equal proportion in both genders in middle and high school levels in Isfahan. A simple self-administered questionnaire consisting of 9 scales of PA from inactivity (0.9 METs) to vigorous activity (>6 METs) used in European countries was validated and filled out by 100 selected samples. Overall, 1894 filled questionnaires (94% of total) were returned.Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t and Pearson correlation tests at P<0.05. The mean age of subjects studied was 14.7±1.1 years in girls and 14.5±1.2 years in boys. The mean daily PA with an intensity of more than 2 METs in boys was significantly higher than girls 36.9±6.8 vs.26.6±4.2, respectively, (P<0.001). The daily energy expenditure by activities with more than 2 METs of intensity in the middle school students was 1000.3±128.5 Kcal in girls, and 2395.6±172.4 Kcal in boys (P<0.001).Considering the high school students, these values were 1469.8±190.7 and 2146.3±399.7 Kcal, respectively (P<0.001).In both genders, PA duration and level was lower in high school than middle school students. A significant inverse relationship was found between the mean daily PA with the mean weight (r=-0.64, P<0.001), and with the mean body mass index (r=-0.71, P<0.001).Findings of the present study provide a simple and valid self-report questionnaire and shows an undesirable PA level in adolescents especially females and high school students. This finding emphasizes the necessity to pay more attention to PA promotion in youth, and to provide facilities in this regard.

Introduction. Methemoglobinemia is a condition characterized by increased quantities of hemoglobin in which the iron of heme is oxidized to the ferric(Fe3+) form. Methemoglobin is useless as an oxygen carrier and thus causes a varying degree of cyanosis. The condition may arise as a result of a genetic defect in red blood cell metabolism or hemoglobin structure, or it may be acquired following exposure to various axidant drugs or toxins. The most common cause of methemoglobinemia, as in this clinical case, is ingestion of or exposure of skin or mucous membranes to oxidizing agents (such as anesthetics and silver nitrate).Methods. In an experimental animal study, 30 rabbits with the same weight and sex are devided in two groups (A and B).-Vitamine C is administered to group B (200 mg/kg intraperitoneal). One houre after that, laparotomy was done. Then silver nitrate was injected intraperitoneal (1000 mg/kg) in both groups. Blood samples were examined 30 and 60 minutes after injection. Results. Methemoglobin before and after intervention in group A was 0.38±0.13, 1.63±0.02 (30 min) and 2.21±0.4 (60 min) percent respectively. Methemoglobin before and after intervention in group B was 0.39±0.13, 0.82 ± 0.19 (30 min) and 0.41 ± 0.1.7 (60 min) percent, respectively. Methemoglobin concentration was greater in group A in 30th and 60th minute after intervention (P<0.0l)Discussion. Ascorbic acid penetrate the erythrocyte membrane. Under physiological conditions ascorbic acid induced methemoglobin reduction is far less important than reduction by the NADH dependent methemoglobin reductase system. In methemoglobinemic conditions caused by toxic effects or by congenital methemoglobin reductase deficiency treatment with ascorbic acid is possible. However, critically increased methemoglobin content of the blood higher than 30% makes therapy with methylene blue necessary. So, vitamine C is recommended for methemoglobinemia therapy.

Introduction: Animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with partial damage of nigrostriatal dopaminergic system are very suitable for development of treatment strategies. Although drug-induced rotational behavior has been conventionally used for analysis of lesioned animals, but bcause of the development of sensitization, it is necessary to invent a pure behavioral test that can evaluate such animals in a drug-free state which may better reflect a more natural response of the animal following lesion. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of elevated-body swing test in analysis of unilaterally lesioned animals in an early model of Parkinson’s disease. Material and Methods: Thirty male rats were randomly divided into sham-operated and lesion groups. An early model of PD was developed by interstitial injection of 12.2 μg of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the left striatum. Apomorphine-induced rotational and drug-free elevated body swing behaviors were evaluated. Results: Results of behavioral tests revealed that apomorphine caused a very significant contralateral turning in the rats of the lesion group (L+V) compared to sham-operated group (SH) (P<0.0001). In addition, there existed a significant difference between +V and SH groups in the second (P<0.01) and fourth weeks (P<0.05) after surgery. Further analysis of correlation for not number of rotations versus net number of rotations versus net number swings revealed a significant and positive correlation (r=0.52) in the second week in L+V group, but no such correlation was observed in the fourth week (r=0.24). Conclusion: Taken together, it is concluded that elevated body swing test may be of less value in evaluation of motor asymmetry in an early model of Parkinson’s disease compared to drug-induced rotational behavior. Therefore, it may be used as a complementary test to drug-induced rotational test for alternate evaluation of motor asymmetry in unilateral model of early PD in rats.

Human as well as laboratory animals can become dependent on a variety of drugs of abuse. Such as alcohol and opiates. Nevertheless, the ability of drugs to create dependence is poorly underst6od. Some of drugs or stimulation of some parts of brain may cause reward which is a response to a stimulus which causes pleasure. It seems that serotonin in hypothalamus enkephalins and GABA in ventral tegmentum area and nucleus accumbens and noradrenaline (release of noradrenaline in hyppocampus from neuronal fibers that originate in locus ceruleus) involve in biology of rewards but dopaminergic system is the final common pathway. Drugs acting on reward mechanism induce pleasure which is named reinforcement. The reinforcing effect of drugs, reinforcing in the sense that they caused the drugs to be used repeatedly areamatter of interest. The reinforcement causes tolerance and dependence to drug abuse. Alcohol, cocaine, morphine and amphetamine have reinforcement properties. Animal models that, can be used to study drug dependence are based on conditioning such as: Self Administration, Self-Stimulation and Conditioned Place Preference (CPP). Jumping behavior is also a model of opioid dependency.

Background and purpose: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorder that results in significant consequences in active population of the society.In traditional manscripts there are many indications about the antidepressant effects of rose drops, but, sofar no scientific research has been done about this subject.The objective of present study is to determine the anti depressant effects of this plant.Materials and Methods: This study was done on laboratory rats. Using the forced mandatory swimming test and the effect of Rosa in different concentrations was compared to the effects of placebo and amphetamine.Results: Rose drops with a concentration of 5% had no antidepressant effect, but concentrations of 10%, 20% and 40%, reduced the depression significantly in Comparision to placebo, which was similar to amphetamine.Conclusion: Since the anti depressant effect of Rose drops appeared acutely and in a short period of time, like amphetamine, it is probable that, its effect is due to release of pre-synaptic amines.