مجله فیض
سال بیست و سوم شماره 5 (پیاپی 108، آذر و دی 1398)

Alternative synthetic estrogen replacement hormone therapy has a deleterious effect on the liver tissue. It seems the pumpkin seeds can be a good alternative to hormone therapy. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of pumpkin seeds on the amount of estrogen hormone in adult female rats and its effects on liver markers And liver and ovarian tissue changes.

In this experimental study, 40 immature female wistar rats (in the weight range of 10±180 g and the age of 60 days) were divided into 5 groups of 8 animals: three experimental groups, control and sham groups. The hydro-alcoholic extract of pumpkin seeds was injected intraperitoneally for 21 consecutive days to the experimental groups (doses: 20, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight). Serum levels of hepatic and ovarian markers were determined and histological studies were performed on the liver and ovary.

Significant decrease in ALP and significant increase in FSH and LH and the graph follicles in experimental group 3 and a significant reduction in the number of primary and primary follicles in the three experimental groups compared to the group Controlling and the number of secondary follicles in the experimental group 1 were observed compared to the experimental groups 2 and 3 (P>0.05).

Estrogen in the hydro-alkali extract of pumpkin seeds without harmful effects on the liver tissue can lead to ovulation and is an appropriate alternative to artificial estrogens and regulating the gastrointestinal tract.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is a way of preserving fertility in women with cancer and premature ovarian failure. Maintenance of follicular reserve is mandatory after ovary cryopreservation. This study was performed to determine the effect of alginate hydrogel as a capsule on morphology and follicular count of vitrified mouse ovary.

In this experimental study, mature mice ovaries were divided into four groups: non-vitrified ovary, vitrified ovary, ovaries that have been encapsulated with alginate hydrogel with a concentration of 0.5 and 1% and then were vitrified (Experimental1 and Experimental2, respectively). The vitrification was performed with ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide solutions. Morphological study was done using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Average number of intact and atretic follicles was evaluated in each group. Data were compared by one-way ANOVA and post hoc test. Values of P<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Follicular counting results showed that the mean of total follicles in all groups was not significantly different. The highest and lowest number of intact follicles were observed in non-vitrified and experimental group 1, respectively. The observed decrease in the average number of intact follicles in experimental groups was not significant as compared with the vitrified group, but it was significant in comparison with the non-vitrified group (P<0.05). The average number of atretic follicles in the vitrified and experimental groups significantly increased than the non-vitrified group (P<0.05).

Encapsulation of ovaries at concentration of 0.5 and 1% of alginate hydrogel could not improve the morphology and preserve intact follicles of vitrified ovaries any better.

Depression and anxiety are among the most important diseases of human being. The chemical drugs used to treat these diseases have side effects, therefore, the use of medicinal herbs such as Rhus Coriaria can be effective in treating these diseases with regard to properties such as anti-oxidant activity. In this study, the effects of oral administration of Rhus Coriaria fruit essential oil (RCFEO) was investigated on depression and anxiety in male rats.

In this experimental study, adult male Wistar rats were divided into control, RCFEO (50, 100, and 300 mg/kg), fluoxetine (depression reference drug) and alprazolam (anxiety reference drug) groups. In order to evaluate the depression and anxiety, forced swimming and elevated plus maze tests were used, respectively.

In the forced swimming test, there were significant differences between the RCFEO (100 and 300 mg/kg) and the control group in aspect of the immobility time (P<0.05, P<0.001) as well as climbing time (P<0.05, P<0.01), respectively. In addition, the results from the elevated plus maze test showed that the percent of entries into open arms are significantly different between 300 mg/kg of RCFEO and control that way this index had increased by using RCFEO (300 mg/kg) (P<0.001).

This experimental study indicates that administration of Rhus Coriaria fruit essential oil (orally) probably can improve depression and anxiety in male rats.

Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline antibiotic that is widely used as a chemotherapy agent. However, the benefit of this agent is limited due to its side effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training and crocin consumption on oxidative stress in liver tissue of male rats under chronic induction of doxorubicin.

In the present experimental study, 40 Wistar male rats were placed in groups: Healthy control (saline), doxorubicin (control) (2 mg/kg in 7 doses), doxorubicin and crocin (2mg/kg), doxorubicin training, and doxorubicin, crocin and training. The training groups ran in 80-90% of maximum speed for 8 weeks, 5 days a week, with 2-minute intervals. The level of malondialdehyde, activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes in liver tissue was measured.

Doxorubicin significantly increased malondialdehyde levels and reduced the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the liver tissue in the groups receiving doxorubicin compared to the healthy control group (P<0.001). Use of all three interventions caused a significant decrease in malondialdehyde level (P<0.001) and a significant increase in superoxide dismutase and catalase activity as a result of exercise (both enzymes, P=0.001), crocin (P=0.002 and P=0.001) and combination of exercise and crocin (both enzymes, P=0.001) compared to the control group of doxorubicin. Also, the combined effect of exercise and crocin was better than the effect of each alone (P<0.001).

It seems that regular high intensity interval training, supplementation of crocin, or a combination of these two, can reduce the toxicity of doxorubicin by reducing oxidative stress.

Cardiac apoptosisplays an important role in myocardial diseases. Current evidence suggests that exercise training may modify some apoptosis-related signaling in myocardium. This study aimedto investigate the effect of aerobic training on cardiac Bax, Bcl2 and caspase-3 inmale rats.

In this experimental study, Sixteen Wistar male rats 10 weeks old with 299.74±19.32 g weight were randomly classified into control and training groups. Training groups have performed an aerobic running program (at 10-18 m/min, 10-40 min/day, and 5 days/week) on a motor-driven treadmill for six weeks.Forty eight hours after the last training session, rats were sacrificed; hearts were excised and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 °C.Bax, Bcl2 and caspase3 protein expression were evaluated by ELISA and western blot. Data were analyzed using Independent t-test and ANCOVA at P<0.05.

The results showed that six weeks aerobic training significantly decreased heart Bax in rats (P=0.045). Also heart Bcl2 (P=0.003) and caspase-3 (P=0.040) were significantly increased in comparison to the training group.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise seems to modify some factors affecting the apoptosis of the heart tissue of male rats.

Physical Activity has a beneficial effect on blood lipids. In patients with subclinical hypothyroidism the levels of blood lipids increase. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 5 month aerobic exercise training on serum lipids profile in women with subclinical hypothyroidism.

In this semi-experimental study, after obtaining written consent, 25 subclinical hypothyroidism women (age: 35.59±3.83) were divided into three groups: drug-exercise (n=8), exercise (n=7), and drug (n=10). Aerobic exercise training consisted of 3 sessions (60 min) per week for 5 months. In order to increase the intensity of training, rhythmic movements were performed with different and more complex combinations. The drug group was inactive persons who took only LT4 tablets. Serum levels of cholesterol, LDL, HDL, TG and VLDL were measured in three groups after 5 months. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance.

Results showed that aerobic exercise training resulted in non-significant changes in serum levels of cholesterol (P=0.539), LDL (P=0.537), HDL (P=0.676), TG (P=0.531), VLDL (P=0.529) in subclinical hypothyroidism women.

According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that 5 months of Aerobics exercise leads to non-significant changes in serum lipid profiles in subclinical hypothyroidism women. Thus, 5 months of Aerobic exercise does not affect the improvement of serum lipid profiles in subclinical hypothyroidism women.

This study’s aim was to determine the effectiveness of group behavioral activation therapy on adherence to treatment of women with breast cancer (WBC).

 This is a randomized clinical trial. All patients with breast cancer were referred to the Iranmehr hospital of Birjand in 2018, selected as sample statistical population. First, a structured interview was conducted in line with the aim of the research, on 60 WBC referring to the hospital by an available sampling method. Then 32 patients with the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The data was collected with the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (2008) and demographics questionnaire. The intervention group received treatment program of behavioral activation in 8 sessions of 120 minutes weekly, but the control group was placed on the waiting list. Data were analyzed by SPSS-20 software and variance analysis with repeated measures.

The mean (standard deviation) age of the intervention group was 44.7 (7.7) and the control group was 45 (43.7), which was not statistically different (P=0.05, t=0.05). The results showed that the mean (standard deviation) post-test scores of non-adherence in the intervention group was 2.47 (0.69) significantly lower than the post-test scores of 15.27 (1) in the control group (P<0.004).

Group behavioral activation therapy significantly increases the adherence to treatment of WBC. Therefore, behavioral activation approach can be used as a short-term and cost-effective way to increase adherence to treatment of these patients by creating targeted activities, internal motivation, and self-efficacy in patients.

Sexual problems are common in cardiac patients. While several methods were introduced as treatment, but this problems have negative impact on quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate effect of sexual education during the discharge plan of hospital on sexual knowledge and sexual quality of life in post CABG or PTCA patients in Kashan Shahid Behashti hospital (2018).

 Study was done as clinical randomized trial. In the case group, patients were educated based on nursing cardiac references (sexual problems section) and in the control group, routine educations during discharge were done. Sexual knowledge scale of Yi-Hung (SKS) and sexual quality of life of Abraham (SQOL) was measured before and 2 months after discharge. After obtaining consent, we randomly assigned 71 patients into the ‘Educated group’ (n=34) and the ‘control group’ (n=37). Both groups were matched in term of age, sex, underlying disease, and the previous treatment method. Collected data were compiled with SPSS-16 and analysis was performed on them.

Results showed the sexual knowledge mean and sexual quality of life mean increased significantly at discharge and two months thereafter (P=0.001 and P=0.01, respectively).

Sexual education in the discharge plan is significantly effective in improving the sexual knowledge and sexual quality of life in patients after CABG or PTCA beyond the usual cardiac rehabilitation. Therefore, sexual education can help with cardiac rehabilitation.

Due to the human need for food, any change in the quality and quantity of food will affect the health of the community. It is important to remove microbial contaminants from food during the production, storage and supply phases. In this study, the antibacterial effects of nanoparticles of zinc oxide on two Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes were investigated.

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were prepared from zeolite and quantified by X-ray fluorescence. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of nanoparticles of zinc oxide were determined using a disc diffusion method. Graphpad prism statistical software was used for data analysis and ANOVA was used for analysis of variance. Significant limit was set at 0.05 (P≤0.05).

Based on the results of this study, the MIC value of nanoparticles of zinc oxide for all tested bacteria was 4 mg/ml, and the MBC values for standard strain and Escherichia coli isolates were 8 and 4 mg/ml, respectively. The standard strain and isolate of Listeria monocytogenes was calculated to be 4 mg/ml.

The present study showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles can be used as a deterrent against the pathogens of the materials and avoid contamination.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is considered as a harmful event for couples, and can lead to serious problems such as anxiety and depression in couples. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is involved in a variety of disorders including spontaneous abortion (RSA). Paraoxonase and Ariel Esterase are antioxidant enzymes with various protective effects. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum MDA level and enzymatic activity of paraoxonase and arile esterase enzymes with RSA risk.

In this case-control study, 53 RSA patients and 47 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects as the control group were enrolled in the study. Level of MDA were determined in serum sample by using a calorimetrically method with thiobarbituric acid (TBA). The activity of enzymes Paraoxonase and arylesterase were measured by spectrophotometry.  

The mean serum level of MDA was significantly increased in RSA patients compared to a healthy control group (5.85±1.00 vs. 5.47±0.77, P<0.05). We did not observe any significant difference between two groups in mean activity of enzymes Paraoxonase and arylesterase. We found a positive statistical correlation between the serum levels of MDA and anti-paternal cytotoxic antibody (APCA) (r=+0.20, P=0.04).

The present study reveals that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in women with a history of spontaneous abortion may increase and subsequently may play a role in non-pregnant women with a history of RSA. Therefore, the increase of oxidative stress in women with a history of RSA is not related solely to pregnancy.

Given the likelihood of recurrence of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the inadequacy of therapeutic approaches in the lasting recovery of symptoms of this disorder, the precise identification of the factors involved in initiating and maintaining PTSD is very important. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the intermediate role of metacognition and experiential avoidance in the relationship between childhood trauma and PTSD symptoms.

The subjects of this analytical-cross-sectional research were 432 patients (278 females and 154 males) who were seeking treatment at the health centers of Shiraz in spring, summer, autumn and winter of 2018, which were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the Structured Interview for Axis I and II disorders (SCID). The PTSD Checklist —5 (PCL-5), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II (AAQ-II) were used. Data were analyzed with the structural equation modeling (SEM) in Amos software (23-ver).

The results showed that the proposed model was well fitted (CFI=0.97, GFI=0.93, TLI=0.96, IFI=0.97, NFI=0.97, RMSEA=0.07), and all of the direct and indirect path coefficients were significant at the alpha level of 0.01. So that metacognition and experiential avoidance significantly mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and PTSD symptoms.

The findings of this study suggest that considering the role of childhood trauma, metacognition and experimental avoidance in the design of psychological interventions for the people with PTSD is helpful/essential.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes; While, physical activity and nutrition are considered as important factors in the evaluation of metabolic syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the association between the metabolic syndrome indices with physical activity levels and dietary pattern in elderly women.

In this descriptive study, 350 elderly women of Eslamabad-e Gharb city with metabolic syndrome volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study in 2017. After completing the consent and then Semi-quantitative food frequency, Physical activity and general questionnaires for all participants, their anthropometric characteristics were determined. Factor analysis was used to identify major dietary patterns. For analyzing the data, one-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression tests were used.

The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between healthy diet patterns with moderate (P<0.015) and high (P<0.009) physical activity level. Also, there is a significant relationship between western dietary patterns with low physical activity level (P<0.013). While, there was no significant correlation between mixed dietary pattern and physical activity levels (high, moderate and low). Also, the healthy food pattern has a significant inverse correlation with the metabolic syndrome, whereas the correlation of the Western food pattern (such as carbohydrate drinks, frozen foods and salty snacks) was significantly positive.

Findings of the present study can indicate the relationship between physical activity and dietary pattern with metabolic syndrome.

 During recent decades, research studies have confirmed exercise training as a remarkable lifestyle intervention towards enhancing learning and memory. However, the intensity and manner by which the labor conditions partake in the functionality of brain tissue are not yet clear. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a non-systematic review article of the behavioral and cellular mechanisms on learning function and memory performance in animal and human species.

The method of data collection was to retrieve scientific papers, published between 1999 and 2019, from available databases, using the searching keywords: aerobic exercise, memory, and learning. Subsequently, out of 120 available articles, 107 cases were selected to survey the role of aerobic exercise on the nervous system.

 Findings from the literature review revealed the significant effect of regular submaximal aerobic exercise on learning and memory function, in both rats and humans. Furthermore, some studies indicated that long-term aerobic exercise intervention did not increase the learning functions and memory performance. Nevertheless, the positive effects of exercise patterns on memory predominate the negative ones. Thus, further investigation is necessary to thoroughly examine the role of the intensity, duration, and type of exercise training on both cognitive learning functions, and on the selection of new neuropeptides in brain tissue.

The rehabilitation role of aerobic exercise protocols seems important in the enhancement of learning level efficiency. Also these protocols were important in possible treatment of the memory-related central nervous system disorders.