Showing 101 results for Research Article: Research Article
Mark Aihiokhai, Augustine Okpiabhele,
Volume 16, Issue 5 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Piper guineense (African black pepper) is a widely consumed spice in some parts of Central and Western Africa, especially Nigeria, due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. This study investigated biochemical effects of extract of P. guineense seeds on lipid profile, renal function parameters, and antioxidant status of Cavia porcellus.
Methods: Forty guinea pigs (weighing 200–300g) were equally divided into a control group and three experimental groups. Animals in the control group received 1 mL of distilled water daily for 28 days, while animals in the experimental groups 1, 2, and 3 received 0.5 mL of distilled water along with 10, 20, and 20 mg/100 g body weight powered seeds daily for 28 days.
Results: Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and calcium. The median lethal oral dose of the aqueous extract of P. guineense seeds was greater than 5,000 mg/kg, indicating a high degree of safety. The extract at dose of 30 mg/100 g body weight had the most beneficial effects on lipid profile, renal function parameters, and antioxidant status of guinea pigs when compared with other groups.
Conclusion: Given the beneficial effects of P. guineense on lipid profile and renal function parameters, the plant can be incorporated in daily diets to ensure receiving adequate amount of essential vitamins, phytochemicals, and other nutrients present in the plant.
Parisa Zeinali, Marie Saghaeian, Jahanbakhsh Asadi, Seyyed Mehdi Jafari,
Volume 16, Issue 5 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Activation of adenosine A2a receptor has been shown to induce the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. The role of this receptor in esophageal cancer has not yet been determined. The present study aimed to investigate effects of an adenosine A2a receptor antagonist (3, 7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine) on growth of esophageal cancer cells.
Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate mRNA expression of the A2a adenosine receptor in KYSE-30 and YM-1 esophageal cancer cell lines. Effects of the antagonist on viability of the cells were evaluated by MTT assay.
Results: At low concentrations, the antagonist had no effect on cell viability. However, at concentrations ≥200 μM, the antagonist significantly reduced viability of both cell lines (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the adenosine A2a receptor antagonist exerts inhibitory effects on KYSE30 and YM-1 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, the use of this antagonist can be exploited as a therapeutic target for the treatment of esophageal cancer.
Rajneesh Prajapat, Suman Jain,
Volume 16, Issue 6 (11-2022)
Abstract
Background and objectives: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global health emergency. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) NSP13 helicase plays an important role in SARS-CoV-2 replication and could serve as a target for the development of antivirals. The objective of the study was to perform homology modeling and docking analysis of SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 helicase as a drug target.
Methods: The structure and function of SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 helicase were predicted by in-silico modeling studies. The SWISS-MODEL structure assessment tool was used for homology modeling and visual analysis of the crystal structure of the protein. The validation for structure models was performed using PROCHECK. Model quality was estimated based on the QMEAN and ProSA. The MCULE-1-Click docking and InterEvDock-2.0 server were used for protein-ligand docking.
Results: The SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 helicase model corresponded to probability confirmation with 90.9% residue of the core section, which highlights the accuracy of the predicted model. ProSA Z-score of -9.17 indicated the good quality of the model. Inhibitor N-(3-(carbamoylamino) phenyl) acetamide exhibited effective binding affinity against the NSP13 helicase. The docking results revealed that Lys-146, Leu-147, Ile-151, Tyr-185, Lys-195, Tyr-224, Val-226, Leu-227, Ser-229 residues exhibit good binding interactions with inhibitor ligand N-(3-(carbamoyl amino) phenyl) acetamide.
Conclusion: Hence, the proposed inhibitor could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 helicase, which is thought to play key roles during viral replication. The results of this study indicate that N-(3-(carbamoylamino) phenyl) acetamide could be a valuable lead molecule with great potential for SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 helicase inhibition.
Maryam Yaseri, Seyyedeh Sahereh Mortazavi Khatibani, Arvin Naeimi, Haniyeh Sadat Fayazi,
Volume 16, Issue 6 (11-2022)
Abstract
Background and objectives: In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, are commonly observed. We aimed to investigate the associations between CRP test results and clinical characteristics in patients with COVID-19.
Method: In this cross-sectional study, data from 399 patients with COVID-19 were collected through a census method. The patients were divided into a CRP-positive group (n=335) and a CRP-negative group (n=64). Demographical data, laboratory findings, clinical characteristics, and history of some underlying diseases were compared between the two groups. All analyses were carried out in SPSS (version 21).
Results: The frequency of hypertension was 40.1% among the study population, 42.4 % among CRP-positive patients, and 28.1% among CRP-negative patients. Diabetes and heart disease were the most common comorbidities among the patients. Dyspnea (60.4%), fever (52.7%), fatigue (45.4%), and dry cough (40.1%) were the most commonly observed symptoms. The mean duration of hospitalization was 8.14±6.18 days, and the mean duration of intensive care unit stay was 9.09±9.41 days. Moreover, CRP positivity was significantly associated with hypertension, immunosuppressive therapy, and higher duration of hospitalization (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Pre-existing hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease with the coincidence of some clinical symptoms are associated with higher levels of CRP in COVID-19 patients, which results in longer hospitalization.
Iffat Jamal, Shuchi Smita, Ravi Bhushan Raman, Vijayanand Choudhary, Satyadeo Choubey, Kaushal Kumar,
Volume 16, Issue 6 (11-2022)
Abstract
Background and objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, a newly emergent coronavirus, first recognized in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Early identification of laboratory indicators helps in distinguishing severe patients from mild to moderate counterparts and can facilitate medical interventions, thereby lowering the mortality rate. The present study was done to evaluate the role of hematological parameters and basic coagulation parameters in the assessment of the severity of COVID-19.
Methods: This retrospective observational study was done at a tertiary care institute from May 2020 to May 2021. Hematological and coagulation profile was studied in 200 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Data related to age, gender, and clinical features were retrieved from patients’ records. Laboratory findings such as complete blood count neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio, and coagulation parameters in different categories were compared.
Results: The majority of patients were males (59.5%) and with mild illness (52.5%). Moderate and severe illness was present in 30% and 17.5% of cases, respectively. The frequency of anemia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia was 62.5%, 6%, and 5.5%, respectively. Overall neutrophilia was seen in 40.5% of cases, whereas lymphopenia was seen in 39% of cases. Coagulation parameters were also much deranged in moderate and severe cases as compared to mild cases.
Conclusion: The hematopoietic and hemostatic systems are significantly affected by COVID-19. Careful evaluation of laboratory parameters assists clinicians in formulating a tailored treatment approach and in predicting disease severity.
Ashwini Suruthy, Seema Bijjaragi, G V Neethu,
Volume 16, Issue 6 (11-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a public health emergency. This study aimed to investigate a possible correlation between COVID-19 severity and mortality and serum levels of ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 75 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in a tertiary care hospital in Central Karnataka (India) from April 2021 to June 2021. Demographic details as well as clinical and laboratory parameters were retrieved from hospital records.
Results: Of 75 patients, 50 were survivors and 25 were non-survivors. Serum ferritin levels were significantly associated with mortality (p<0.040). There was no significant association between CRP level and COVID-19 severity or mortality (p>0.05).
Conclusion: This study revealed that serum ferritin levels can be used as a prognostic marker for COVID-19 patients.
Ali Reza Nasiri, Amir Reza Karamibonari,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (1-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used in the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections. One of the side effects of this antibiotic is nephrotoxicity. In this study, the protective effect of Melissa officinalis L. extract on diabetes- and gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity was studied.
Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. The first group received distilled water, and the second group received M. officinalis L. extract (100 mg/kg) for 28 days. The third group received streptozocin (60 mg/kg) for 18 days, and then received gentamicin (80 mg/kg) on day 20 for 8 consecutive days. The fourth group received streptozocin, gentamicin, and M. officinalis L. extract for 28 days. Serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose, and amylases were measured. The right kidney was maintained in 10% formalin for hematoxylin and eosin staining, and oxidative stress markers in the left kidney were assessed.
Results: In the third group, serum BUN, creatinine, glucose, amylase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, while glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities decreased significantly compared to the other groups (P<0.05). The extract of M. officinalis L. significantly inhibited the enhancement of serum creatinine, BUN, glucose, amylase, and MDA (P<0.05). Histological examinations showed that diabetes and gentamicin could lead to kidney damage by inducing necrosis and inflammation. Finally, the extract of M. officinalis L. could significantly reduce the adverse effects of both gentamicin and diabetes (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The extract of M. officinalis L. improves biochemical parameters and histological lesions in diabetic rats treated with gentamicin.
Marziyeh Erfaninia, Fahimeh Alizadeh,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (1-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in the agricultural and healthcare sectors have led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Therefore, finding alternative antimicrobial compounds, such as phytochemicals, is of great importance. This study evaluated the feasibility of carvacrol as an antifungal agent in suppressing the planktonic and hyphal growth of clinical isolates of fluconazole-susceptible and -resistant Candida tropicalis.
Methods: Clinical isolates of fluconazole-resistant C. tropicalis were identified using the CLSI guidelines and the World Health Organization's WHONET software. The inhibitory effect of carvacrol on planktonic cells was assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and time-kill profile. The inhibitory effect of carvacrol on hyphal growth was studied by using light field microscopy.
Results: The findings indicated that 50% of clinical isolates of C. tropicalis were resistant to fluconazole. The MIC90 and MIC50 of carvacrol against clinical isolates of fluconazole-susceptible and -resistant C. tropicalis were 25.00-300.00 µg/ml and 12.50-100.00 µg/ml, respectively. The time-kill analysis indicated that carvacrol exhibited fungicidal activity against the fluconazole-susceptible and -resistant C. tropicalis isolates 2-48 hours after exposure. Moreover, planktonic and hyphal growth of the isolates decreased significantly after exposure to carvacrol.
Conclusion: The findings revealed that carvacrol exhibits inhibitory effects on the planktonic and hyphal cells of fluconazole-susceptible and -resistant C. tropicalis isolates. Therefore, the antifungal potential of carvacrol as a natural antifungal could be further exploited for the treatment of resistant C. tropicalis infections
Jonas Bikorimana, Joselyne Ingabire, Aprinal Arinaitwe, Parfait Cyuzuzo,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (1-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: All three phases of laboratory testing are equally important for improving total quality management, but the pre-analytical phase is the most error-prone. This study aimed to determine the rate and reasons for blood sample rejection in the pre-analytical phase of laboratory testing in a referral hospital in Ruhengeri, Rwanda.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional and retrospective study in which 222 samples with nonconformities were discovered from 19,775 clinical samples. Various data related to the rejected samples were recorded along with nonconformities.
Results: The rate of blood sample rejection was 1.045% and 1.165% for the cross-sectional and retrospective approaches, respectively. The overall blood sample rejection rate was 1.105%. The most frequent error in the cross-sectional aspect was mislabeling (38.3%), while clotting (46.4%) was the most common cause of sample rejection in the retrospective aspect.
Conclusion: Based on the results of our study, the rate of blood sample rejection is high in the study area. Thus, there should be a laboratory policy for error record keeping as well as a settlement in “laboratory sentinel events” covering the total testing process.
Asra Askari, Bobysun Askari, Saqqa Farajtabar Behrestaq,
Volume 17, Issue 1 (1-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue. It is the most common chronic metabolic bone disease. The purpose of this study was to compare the level of bone metabolic markers including parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), calcium, and phosphorus between female basketball players and non-athlete females.
Methods: Twelve female professional basketball players (aged 20-35 years) of the Super League of Golestan Province (Iran) were enrolled as the experimental group. Fifteen age-matched non-athlete females were also selected as the control group. Plasma levels of PTH, ALP, calcium, and phosphorus were compared between the study groups.
Results: The levels of PTH (p=0.004) and ALP (p=0.001) were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The levels of calcium and phosphorus did not differ significantly between the study groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, it could be stated that performing weight-bearing sports activities such as basketball can improve the density of bone minerals and the factors stimulating bone formation.
Sk.riyaz Parveen, G Vamshi Deepak, Amulya Boddapati,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Malaria causes a wide spectrum of hematological and clinical manifestations. This study aimed to identify the alterations in the clinical and hematological parameters in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, and mixed species.
Methods: The study included 126 smear-positive malaria cases, and various hematological parameters were studied.
Results: The frequency of P. vivax, P. falciparum, and mixed species was 53.9%, 36.5%, and 9.6%, respectively. Anemia (hemoglobin <11 gm%) was seen in 79.3% of the cases, and severe anemia (hemoglobin <5g%) was detected in 27.7% of the cases. A decrease in red blood cell count was observed in 67% of P. falciparum and 47% cases of P. vivax cases. Increased red cell distribution width and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were seen in 81% and 78% of the cases, respectively. Leukocytosis and leucopenia were detected in 15% and 16% of all malaria cases, respectively. Thrombocytopenia was associated with 78% of cases infected with P. vivax. The degree of anemia was correlated with the parasite load, and the degree of parasitemia was correlated with the extent of thrombocytopenia. There were also significant variations in the mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and platelet counts among malarial species (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Malaria is frequently associated with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. Thrombocytopenia is mostly associated with P. vivax infection. On contrary, leukopenia is more prevalent in P. falciparum, followed by P. vivax and mixed parasitemia.
Priyanka Sharma, Rahul Verma,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Granulomatous disorders of the skin are frequently encountered in clinical practice and require histopathological confirmation due to a considerable etiological and clinical overlap. A single histopathological pattern may be produced by many causative agents and at the same time, a single cause can present with varied histopathological patterns. The present study was performed to evaluate the histomorphological patterns of granulomas in various granulomatous skin lesions and to identify the causative agents.
Methods: The study (both prospective and retrospective) was carried out in the department of pathology over 5 years. All skin biopsies were evaluated for the presence of granulomas. Detailed analysis of the histopathological pattern of granulomas was performed and categorization was made according to the type and etiology. Special stains were also used when required. A clinicopathological correlation was established with the Kappa statistic.
Results: Of 1,150 skin biopsies, granulomatous skin lesions were observed in 325 cases. Histiocytic granuloma pattern was the most common subtype (55.7%). The predominant etiology of granulomatous inflammation was leprosy (93.5%), followed by cutaneous tuberculosis (2.7%). The cases of Hansen’s disease showed a maximum clinicopathological correlation (58.5%).
Conclusion: Histopathological examination is the gold standard for the diagnosis and subtyping of granulomatous skin lesions. Varied morphologies of granuloma patterns were observed in our study, and infectious diseases were the causative agents in the majority of cutaneous granulomatous disorders.
Fatemeh Rashidpour, Parvin Farzanegi, Hajar Abbaszadeh,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 8 weeks of swimming exercise and omega-3 supplementation on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) genes and serum levels of reproductive hormones in the endometrial tissue of a rat model of endometriosis.
Methods: In this experimental study, 30 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of healthy-control, patient-control, patient+exercise, patient+omega-3, and patient+omega-3+exercise groups. After the induction of endometriosis, the rats were subjected to 8 weeks of swimming exercise, 5 days a week as well as 2 ml/kg/body weight of omega-3. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test at the significance level of 0.05.
Results: The expression of COX-2 and PGE2 as well as serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol levels were significantly higher in the patient group compared with the healthy-control group (p≤0.0001). Exercise and omega-3 supplementation either separately or combined could significantly reduce the expression of both genes and serum levels of LH, FSH, and estradiol (p<0.05). This effect was more profound in the patient+exercise+omega-3 group.
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that regulating the expression of COX-2 and PGE2 genes as well as serum levels of reproductive hormones through swimming exercise and omega-3 supplementation can improve endometriosis.
Maryam Rafiee, Alijan Tabarraei, Mahsa Yazdi, Alireza Mohebbi, Ezzat Allah Ghaemi,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (3-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections. Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a common Gram-positive bacterium that causes uncomplicated UTIs in women. The present study aimed to study the drug resistance pattern and phenotypic and genotypic variation of S. saprophyticus isolates from women with UTI in Gorgan, northern Iran.
Methods: This study was performed from May 2018 to September 2020. During this time, 35 S. saprophyticus strains were isolated from patients with UTI. The antimicrobial patterns of the isolates were determined by a conventional method. Phenotypic criteria such as pigment production, mannitol fermentation, urease production, and 16SrRNA gene valuation were studied.
Results: All isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, gentamicin, and linezolid. S. saprophyticus isolates showed the highest level of resistance to penicillin (85.7%) and erythromycin (51.4%). A variation was detected among S. saprophyticus isolates in terms of pigment production i.e. about 51.4% showed yellow pigment in Muller Hinton agar, and 62.9% of the isolates were able to ferment mannitol sugar. Of 11 isolates that were sequenced for the 16SrRNA gene, only two isolates showed different patterns.
Conclusion: Nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole are the antibiotics of choice for the treatment of UTI caused by S. saprophyticus in the study area. Due to the phenotypic and genotypic differences among S. saprophyticus isolates, typing of S. saprophyticus at the subspecies level is recommended.
Farzane Maryam, Poozesh Vahid, Atefe Amirahmadi, Fatemeh Salimi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Foodborne pathogens can significantly affect the public health and cause medical, social, and economic burden. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and Yersinia enterocolitica are important foodborne pathogens that can cause various diseases. Plant-derived compounds are promising bioactive substances with inhibitory effects against bacteria. Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. is a medical plant with broad therapeutic activities. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of P. abrotanoides extracts against some foodborne pathogens.
Methods: Flowering branches of P. abrotanoides were collected in 2018 and 2019 from three different habitats in the eastern Alborz Mountains, Iran. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated using the agar well diffusion test. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were determined against L. monocytogenes, S. enterica, and Y. enterocolitica. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extracts was investigated by the DPPH test.
Results: The lowest MIC (200 µg/ml) and MBC (400 µg/ml) values against Y. enterocolitica were related to the ethyl acetate extract of plants collected from habitat 1 in 2019. The lowest MIC (50 µg/ml) and MBC (400 µg/ml) values against L. monocytogenes were related to the dichloromethane extract of plants collected from habitat 1 in 2019. All extracts showed antioxidant properties. Results of one-way ANOVA indicated that the DPPH scavenging activity of extracts from plants collected in 2019 was greater than that of those collected in 2018. In most cases, the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed more radical scavenging potential.
Conclusion: It seems that P. abrotanoides is a rich source of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds with great potential for use in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
Leila Asadpour, Mohammad Moradi Bazghaleh,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Fluoroquinolones are a class of broad-spectrum antimicrobials typically used for the treatment of lower urinary tract infections. We aimed to determine the frequency of quinolone resistance genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from urinary tract infections in Guilan Province, Iran.
Methods: The resistance of 114 clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae to common fluoroquinolones and the minimum inhibitory concentration of ciprofloxacin were determined by disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods, respectively. Frequency of five plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes including qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, qepA, and aac (6')-Ib-cr was determined by PCR.
Results. According to phenotypic assays, 60 isolates (52.6%) were resistant to at least one quinolone compound, 42 isolates (36.8%) were resistant to all tested quinolones, and 28 isolates (24.6%) showed a high level of ciprofloxacin resistance. In addition, aac(6')-Ib-cr was the most common PMQR gene (𝑛 = 44), followed by qnrS (𝑛 = 32), and qnrB (𝑛 = 21).
Conclusion: The possible dissemination of PMQR genes poses a serious threat to the management of infections by resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Mojtaba Eizadi, Mehdy Behkar, Yaser Kazemzadeh, Saeid Sedaghaty, Motahareh Moslehi,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Genetic studies have indicated the effective role of transcription factors in insulin synthesis and secretion, especially in the case of diabetes. This study aimed to assess the effects of high-intensity interval training on transcription factor 7-like 2/ glucagon-like peptide 1 (TCF7L2 / GLP-1) axis in pancreatic tissue of obese rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods: For this purpose, obesity was induced in 21 male Wistar rats (weighting 220±10 g) by exposure to a high-fat diet for six weeks. Then, the rats were randomly assigned to a non-diabetic, a control T2DM, and an exercise diabetic group. Next, T2DM was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (25 mg/kg). The rats in the exercise group participated in a HIIT program, five times a week, for six weeks. After the intervention, TCF7L2 and GLP1 expression in the pancreas tissue was determined by real-time PCR. Serum insulin, glucose, and beta cell function were compared between the study groups. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: Induction of T2DM increased glucose level and TCF7L2 expression but decreased insulin, beta cell function, and GLP-1R expression. In addition, HIIT significantly decreased TCF7L2 expression as well as glucose level, serum insulin, and beta cell function; however, it did not significantly change GLP-1R expression compared with the control diabetes rats.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, the improvement of serum insulin and glucose level following HIIT may be attributed to the decrease in TCF7L2 gene expression in the pancreatic tissue of diabetic rats.
Faranak Balaghi Inaloo, Roya Askari, Amir Hossein Haghighi, Kaveh Kashani, Paul Friedemann,
Volume 17, Issue 3 (5-2023)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Studies have reported contradictory results regarding the relationship between serum neurofilament light chain (NFL) and fatigue severity. The aim of our study was to investigate serum NFL and fatigue severity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) after home-based and outdoor Pilates training.
Methods: The study population consisted of 44 women with MS (aged 25 to 40 years) with an expanded disability status scale score of 2-5. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: home-based training (HPT, n=15), outdoor training (OPT, n=15), and a control group (n=14). The training groups performed Pilates exercises for 8 weeks individually at home and under the sun. Blood samples and completed Fatigue Severity Scale forms were taken 48 hours before the first session and after the 8-week intervention.
Results: The results showed that OPT caused a more notable increase in serum vitamin D (32.76±5.13, p<0.001) and a decrease in NFL (15.98±2.26, p <0.001) and FSS score (2.51±0.35, p<0.001) compared with HPT. Also, HPT lowered NFL (18.01±2.28, p<0.001) and FSS score (3.84±0.98, p<0.001) compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Pilates training can reduce NFL levels and FSS scores in women with MS. In addition, OPT is more effective than HPT in reducing NFL and FSS and increasing vitamin D levels.
Mazaher Habibnezhad, Babisan Askari, Saqqa Farajtabar Behrestaq, Asra Askari,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (7-2023)
Abstract
Mazaher Habibnezhad 
,
Babisan Askari ,
Saqqa Farajtabar Behrestaq ,
Asra Askari
Background: This study investigated the impact of a 3-week detraining period, followed by 10 weeks of aerobic training, on the serum levels of osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in asthmatic males.
Methods: Thirty adult males with asthma were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group engaged in a 10-week aerobic training program, which included running sessions 3 times per week for 30-60 minutes each, maintaining a target heart rate range of 55%-75% of their maximum heart rate (HRmax). In contrast, the control subjects did not participate in any exercise activities during the study period. Fasting blood samples were obtained at baseline, after aerobic training, and after detraining to measure the levels of osteocalcin and ALP in both groups.
Results: The 10-week aerobic training program led to a significant increase in levels of osteocalcin and ALP in the experimental group, but following the detraining period, these variables returned to their pre-training levels.
Conclusion: The effectiveness of continuous aerobic training on bone formation markers in asthmatic patients will disappear after a relatively short period of detraining. This evidence emphasizes the lack of stopping aerobic exercise in the presence of inhaled corticosteroids with the aim of improving bone metabolism in asthmatic patients.
Marzieh Niakan, Habib Alla Johari, Mehrdad Shariati, Davood Moghadamnia, Ebrahim Talebi,
Volume 17, Issue 4 (7-2023)
Abstract
Marzieh Niakan1 ,
Habib Alla Johari 2,
Mehrdad Shariati1 ,
Davood Moghadamnia3 ,
Ebrahim Talebi4
Background: Research has shown that the extract of some plants has an effective protective effect on liver cells against toxins and oxidants. In this research, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of ginger against hepatotoxicity caused by doxorubicin (Dox) in adult male rats was investigated.
Methods: In this experimental study, 63 adult male rats were divided into 7 groups (n = 9 per group). The experimental treatments included the control and placebo groups without the use of medicines, experimental group I that received Dox at a dose of 20 mg/kg, experimental groups II and III with 300 and 600 mg/kg of ginger hydroalcoholic extract, and experimental groups IV and V that received 20 mg/kg Dox + 300 and 600 mg/kg of ginger hydroalcoholic extract, respectively. After the end of the test period, serum levels of total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were measured. In addition, the histological changes in the liver were examined after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining.
Results: Serum levels of total bilirubin and direct bilirubin in the Dox group showed a significant increase compared to the control group. In contrast, serum levels of total bilirubin and direct bilirubin in Dox + ZIN 600 and Dox + ZIN 300 had a significant reduction compared to the Dox group (P < 0.05). Ginger extract prevented apoptosis and Dox-induced liver tissue damage in dose-dependent designs.
Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of ginger improves the changes of serum bilirubin and liver tissue after receiving Dox due to its antioxidant compounds.
