Internal Medicine Today
Volume:25 Issue: 3, 2019

Aims The present study investigated the effects of a 10-week concurrent training on the serum levels of vaspin and visfatin in overweight females. Methods & Materials Twenty-four over-weight females from Kerman City, Iran (Mean±SD age: 11.23±0.62 years; Mean±SD weight: 64.83±2.70kg; Mean±SD BMI: 27.97±0.47 kg/m2) were randomly assigned into the control and concurrent training groups. The intervention group performed the training protocol as follows: endurance training: 65-85% of Vo2 max for 20 minutes per session, and resistance training: 50-60% of One Repetition Maximum (1RM) for 30 minutes per session and 3 days a week for 10 weeks. Fasting plasma vaspin, visfatin, and insulin levels were measured by ELISA method. To analyze the data, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used. Findings Performing 10 weeks of concurrent training significantly decreased vaspin and visfatin plasma levels, and insulin resistance resting levels (P≤0.05); however, there was no significant decrease in glucose levels. Conclusion Concurrent training can decrease insulin resistance, probably by reducing vaspin and visfatin in overweight females. Therefore, it is suggested that overweight females use concurrent training to improve insulin sensitivity and prevent metabolic diseases.

Aims Certain exercises can develop the antioxidant system. Fenugreek supplementation containing antioxidant capacity and minerals may increase the benefits of exercises. The current study aimed at investigating the effect of Pilates training with fenugreek supplement on Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and minerals in active women. Methods & Materials The current study was with a quasi-experimental design was conducted on 36 active women aged 21-28 years randomly assigned into four groups: training, supplement, training plus supplement, and control. The training groups performed six weeks of Pilates training with the intensity of 60%-80% of maximal heart rate, three times a week for six weeks. Supplement groups received 500 mg fenugreek seeds daily for six weeks. Before and after the intervention, TAC and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and iron) were measured. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA, Tukey post hoc test, and paired t-test at significant levels of P<0.05. Findings In two variables, TAC and calcium, the time effect was significant, in other words, regardless of the group factor, there were significant differences between the post-test and pre-test of TAC and calcium variables in the experimental groups. The interaction of time-group was significant in TAC variable (P<0.05). The effect of the group was not significant in any of the variables. Conclusion The obtained results suggested that one period of Pilates training and the use of fenugreek supplement alone and in combination could possibly prevent oxidative stress induced by exercise and could be effective in enhancing TAC and increasing calcium levels in active women.

Aims Silver nanoparticles are among the most valuable products of nanoscale technology, widely used in various sciences. The present study investigated the effects of biochemical silver nanoparticles on the structure of the heart tissue of non-observatory rats in the course of aerobic training. Methods & Materials In this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats aged 8 to 12 weeks and weighing 34.9±202 g were studied. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of control, aerobic training, aerobic training, and nanobiological injection, aerobic and-nanochemical injection, nanobiological injection, and nanochemical injection. Chemical and biological silver was injected intraperitoneally after a period of aerobic training. The specimens were discarded after 48 hours, and the heart tissue was removed. Findings The obtained results revealed the tissue changes, including irregularities and the convergence of chemical nanosilver group significantly increased, compared to the controls. Additionally, in the biological group, there was a slight dispersion of blood in some areas. Following the aerobic training and injection of toxic nanosilver, there was no irregularities, detachment, and hypertension. Only in some areas, sporadically, the accumulation of blood cells was observed in the aerobic training and nanochemical groups. Conclusion More tissue damage occurred in chemical silver nanoparticles, than the biological nanoparticle. Possibly, aerobic training can be highly predictive of these effects.

Aims Infertility is among the main problems in a marriage. It is associated with various psychological consequences, including the inability to establish a quality couple relationship as well as an unstable marital commitment. The present study aimed to investigate marital commitment and the relationship quality in fertile and infertile couples in 2016-2017. Methods & Materials This was an analytical cohort study. The statistical population consisted of all couples admitting to Sarem subspecialty Hospital in 2016. Two hundred people (96 infertile, 104 fertile) have been randomly selected as the samples. The completed the marital commitment and the relation to quality scales. After checking the normality of the data, the statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Student t-test, and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Findings The obtained data revealed a significant positive association between marital commitment and relationship quality in fertile and infertile couples (r=0.27 and r=0.18, respectively) (P<0.05). However, this association was stronger in the fertile couples, compared with the infertile ones (relationship quality and marital commitment: P<0.0121 and P<0.0416, respectively). Moreover, the Student t-test and MANOVA results indicated significant differences in relationship quality and marital commitment between the two groups (P<0.0001 and P<0.002, respectively). Conclusion Infertility reduces couples’ commitment and negatively affects the quality of their relationships.

Aims The present research was conducted in 2017-2018 with an aim to determin the relationship of participatory management style with Organizational Citizenship Behavior and organizational commitment of nurses in hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Methods & Materials The present research was a descriptive-correlational applied study. The statistical population of the study included all nurses working in hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and it was comprised of 3538 members. A one-step cluster sampling was used in the present research. Using Cochran formula, 347 members of this community were selected as samples. In order to collect data, standard participatory management (Choopani), Organizational Citizenship Behavior (Organ and Konovsky), and organizational commitment (Allen and Meyer) questionnaires were used. Cronbach’s Alpha showed that the values for reliability of the three questionnaire were 0.902, 0.7140 and 0.795, respectively. The validities of the three questionnaires were confirmed by content validity and construct validity. SPSS18 and LISREL software were used to analyze the data. Findings The findings of the research showed that the relationship between participatory management style and organizational citizenship behavior was positive and significant (P=0.62), and the relationship between participatory management style and organizational commitment was also positive and significant (p=0.48). Considering the value of path coefficient, it was concluded that politeness dimension and respect dimension of organizational citizenship behavior (P=0.65) and emotional commitment dimension (P=0.53) have the most intense relationships with participatory management style. Conclusion The final results of the research suggested that participatory management was in a significant positive relationship with all dimensions of citizenship behavior an also, with the three dimensions of organizational commitment. therefore, it is recommended that the managers of treatment and healthcare centers adopt participatory management style.

Aims Aloe Vera is among the crucial medicinal plants, with proven anti-cancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the effect of plant extracts of Aloe Vera Leaf (AVL) on the proliferation of cell lines K562 (erythroleukemia) and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs). Methods & Materials The inner parts of the plant, including the gelatinous substance, were emptied, and the outer layer was used to prepare the lyophilized extract. The extract was dissolved in DMSO. K562 cells and PBMCs were cultured with 9.375, 18.75, 37.5, 75, 150, and 300 μg/mL concentrations of AVL for 24, 48, or 72 hours. After cultivation, the IC50 was determined for the K562 and normal PBMCs, using the MTT assay (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide). Doxorubicin was used as a positive control. Findings The obtained data suggested that the viability of cells in both the leukemic cell line and normal PBMCs significantly decreased by the treatment with the extract in a dose-dependent manner; however, the AVL toxicity for PBMC was significantly more than K562. IC50 for the standard drug was also significantly less than AVL extract. Conclusion AVL possesses cytotoxic effects for K562 and PBMCs. Nevertheless, it has no selective benefits and has more cytotoxic effects on PBMCs.

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of discontinuation of losartan in response to synthetic erythropoietin therapy on hemoglobin level in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Methods & Materials This study was a pre-and post-interventional clinical trial. The population of the study was hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. In the beginning of the study, and three months after removal of losartan, the patients’ hemoglobin changes were compared. Findings Hemoglobin was significantly increased at the end of the study in all patients (from 10.90±1.66 at the beginning of the study to 11.37±1.42g/dl at the end of 3 months, P=0.046). No significant changes were seen in the hemoglobin level before and after intervention between patients according age, sex, and duration of the disease. Conclusion There was a significant increase in hemoglobin level at the end of study after losartan discontinuation. But this increase did not have a significant relationship with patient’s age, sex as well as the duration of the disease.

Aims Chronic musculoskeletal pain is among the major problems of old age. An effective nursing intervention in relieving pain is the use of local herbal ointments. The present study evaluated the effect of purslane ointment on chronic musculoskeletal pain in the elderly. Methods & Materials This was a randomized, blinded clinical trial study and conducted in 2018, on 60 elderly residents of Gonabad City, Iran. The patients were recruited by convenience sampling method. The samples were randomly assigned to the purslane and placebo groups. The instrument used in this study was McGill pain questionnaire; its validity and reliability were confirmed in previous studies. The intervention was conducted for two weeks. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS and at a significance level of P<0.05. Findings The collected results suggested that the purslane ointment could effectively reduce the sensory and emotional dimensions of pain, compared with placebo. The severity of pain in the elderly was significantly lower in the purslane group after two weeks of intervention, compared to the Pre-test phase. The mean score of pain in two sensory and emotional dimensions was not significantly different between the two genders. Conclusion The use of purslane ointment is effective in reducing musculoskeletal pain in the elderly; therefore, the use of this plant can be considered as a safe and cost-effective intervention by nurses.