Internal Medicine Today
Volume:25 Issue: 4, 2019

Physical activity is usually accompanied by free radicals’ production and oxidative stress. Moreover, to prevent adverse effects, coaches and athletes have to use proper supplementation. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of short-term coenzyme Q10 supplementation on malondialdehyde and serum catalase enzyme activity following moderate and severe acute resistance training in inactive female students. 

 In total, 27 female students were randomly divided into three groups; the groups were homogeneous and equal (two groups of resistance training and one control group). The experimental groups were subjected to moderate-intensity acute (70% 1RM) acute and severe acute activity (85% 1RM) and supplemented with coenzyme Q10 (30 mg /d). CAT and MDA were measured in ELISA using a human kit.

 Moderate and severe acute resistance activities did not alter MDA and catalytic activity (P>0.05); however, after 2 weeks of coenzyme Q10 supplementation, those resulted in a significant decrease in MDA (0.006 and 0.01, respectively) and CAT (0.04 and 0.007, respectively). There were no significant differences between the effects of two exercises (P>0.05). 

Short-term (two weeks) supplementation of coenzyme Q10 and severe acute resistance activity could reduce two important oxidative stress indexes (MDA and CAT).

 Nanoparticles (particles with a diameter of 10-500 nm) are currently used in the cosmetics industry as well as for pharmaceuticals, diagnostic imaging, and tissue engineering. Since these nanoparticles are used in industry and drug delivery, they can also be used by pregnant women. Thus, the current study investigated the teratogenic and cytotoxic effects of Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles on the embryo and their fibroblastic cell culture.

 Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles were synthesized. Then, nanoparticles at the concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 30, and 40 mg/mL/egg were injected into the air sac of the eggs in three replicates on the third day of incubation. Next, the treated and control eggs, on day 19 of incubation were opened, and embryos were weighted, and the relevant mortality rate was recorded. Fibroblast cells were isolated, cultured, and treated from the control embryo, and morphological changes and cell survival percentages were recorded.

The obtained results revealed that the embryos’ survival rate depends on the nanoparticle concentration. As a result, at the highest concentration, only 36.32% of the embryos survived, and the lethal dose 50% (LD50) was equal to 32.47 mg/egg. Morphological study of the treated embryos club foot and skeletal staining suggested the deletion of caudal vertebrate. The cytotoxicity study results of ZnS nanoparticles on fibroblastic cells indicated the survival fractions of 88.45%, 68.75%, and 49.32%, respectively, and its IC50 value was measured aas1460 μM.

The present study results suggested that ZnS nanoparticles had no significant toxic effects on the embryos and culture of chicken fibroblastic cells at low concentrations.

 The prevalence of risk-taking behaviors is a severe health threat. According to rapid social changes, it has recently been considered by health organizations, law enforcement, and social policymakers. The present study aimed to predict risk-taking behaviors based on the role of perceived social support components, emotional expression, and brain-behavioral systems in substance-dependent patients.

This was a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population of the study included all substance-dependent patients referring to substance dependence treatment centers in Ardabil City, Iran, in 2018. In total, 113 substance-dependent patients were selected by convenience sampling method. The study instruments included Rajaee and shafiee's Risk-Taking Behaviors Questionnaire, Zimet's Multiple Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), King, and Emmons's Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (EEQ), and Carver and White's Brain-Behavioral Systems Questionnaire (BIS/BAS). The obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and simultaneous-entry multiple regression analysis in SPSS.

 The achieved results suggested a significant negative correlation between perceived social support from family, friends, and others, with the risk-taking behaviors of substance-dependent patients (P<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between negative emotional expression and the risk-taking behaviors of substance-dependent patients among emotional expressiveness components (P<0.01). Moreover, among the components of brain-behavioral systems, there was a significant positive correlation between behavioral activation system and risk-taking behaviors (P<0.01). Additionally, the regression analysis results revealed that approximately 49% of the total variance of risk-taking behaviors of patients with substance dependence was predicted based on perceived social support components, emotional expression, and brain-behavioral systems (P<0.001).

 In general, perceived social support from family and friends, negative emotional expression, and behavioral activation system can predict risk-taking behaviors in substance-dependent patients.

The caring of schizophrenia patients is a tiresome task for their families. This research aimed to examine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on resilience, meaning in life, and family functioning in the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and follow-up design and a control group. The study sample included 30 members of schizophrenia patients’ families, referring to 2 neurological and psychological rehabilitation centers in Isfahan Province, Iran. By the convenience sampling method, the experimental group received 8 ACT sessions weekly; however, the control group received no treatment. Both groups were assessed in three phases; pretest, posttest, and one-month follow-up. The assessment tools consisted of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Stagger Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and McMaster Family Functioning Scale. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS by repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). 

 The collected results indicated the significant difference of posttest and follow-up phases in terms of meaning in life and family functioning scores between the control and experimental groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant difference in posttest resilience scores (P<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in the follow-up phase in this respect. 

 The collected results suggested that ACT was effective on the meaning of life, family functioning, and resiliency; thus, it could improve such variables in the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.

 The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of combined exercise training (aerobic-resistance) on liver enzymes, lipid profile, and insulin resistance among overweight boys.

 Thirty-two healthy overweight boys voluntarily agreed to take part in the study following the related announcement. The overweight children were randomly divided into control (n=16) and experimental groups (n=16). The latter group performed Concurrent training for eight weeks, three sessions per week, on non-consecutive days. In the same way as the experimental group,  both before and after the eight weeks of training.  In similar conditions, measurement were performed for both experimental and control groups in two stages (i.e. pre-test and after eight weeks of training).

 The results of comparing pre- and post-exercise changes in the values for glucose, insulin, ALT, AST, and insulin resistance for the combined exercise training group showed a significant decrease when compared with those for the control group (p<0.05); however, the LDL and HDL values did not change significantly across groups (p>0.05). 

 In general, the results of this study showed that combined exercises (aerobic-resistance), by reducing the rest levels of liver enzymes, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, and body composition indexes among 11- to 13-year-old boys, tended to be effective in decreasing the risks of being overweight and in preventing such diseases as obesity, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

 Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) are psychotherapy approaches offering specific methods for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Therefore, this study compared the effectiveness of MBT and CAT on improving the ego strength and defense mechanisms in people with BPD.

 This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and a control group design and follow-up stage. In total, 40 men with BPD were selected by purposive sampling technique. The samples were selected from males admitted to Isar psychiatric Hospital and the psychiatric department of Fatemi Hospital in Ardabil City, Iran, in 2018. The samples were randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group. The first experimental group received 20 sessions of MBT, and the second experimental group received 16 sessions of CAT. To collect data, we used psychological inventory ego strength and defense styles questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using mixed model Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe posthoc test.

 The collected results suggested that both interventions were effective in improving the ego strength and defense mechanisms of people with BPD (P<0.001). However, the effect of MBT on the overall score of the ego strength and the immature defenses was higher than that of the other intervention (P<0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference in neurotic defense between the two interventions (P>0.05).

The present research results can support the use of these therapies as part of a non-pharmaceutical treatment program in different treatment centers or psychiatric hospitals.

Type 1 diabetes is a high-prevalent endocrine disease and causes oxidative stress in the testis tissue. In the treatment of diabetes, the tendency toward herbal medicines use is increasing. This study aimed to investigate the crocin effect on the Bax, Bcl2 (B-cell lymphoma 2), and anti-oxidant levels of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

 This experimental study was performed at Payam Noor University. In total, 24 rats were divided into 4 groups, as follows: control, untreated diabetic, and 2 crocin-treated (50, 100 mg/mL, 25 days intraperitoneal injection) diabetic groups. The diabetic groups were diabetic rats receiving the Intraperitoneal (IP) injection of Streptozotocin (STZ). On day 25, the testicles were dissected to evaluate antioxidant enzymes, Bax and Bcl2. The obtained results were analyzed in SPSS using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Least Significant Difference (LSD) test.

 The pro-apoptotic Bax and malondialdehyde levels in the treated group with a concentration of 100 mg/mL of crocin was significantly reduced, compared to the treated group with a concentration of 50 mg/mL of crocin and the control group. However, the level of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 and glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzymes in the treated group with a concentration of 100 mg/mL of crocin significantly increased, compared to the treated group with a concentration of 50 mg/mL of crocin, and the control group (P<0.05). Such finding indicates the effect of crocin concentration. Additionally, crosin significantly reduced the glucose level in diabetic rats.

 Crocin improved the antioxidant indicators and diabetes-induced damages in the testis tissue of diabetic rats.

 Narcotics prescription has controversial effects on the occurrence of anxiety processes; however, its acute and chronic effects on behavioral differences in social isolation are unclear in the processes of dependence and withdrawal. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of acute and chronic intracerebroventricular morphine sulfate withdrawal on the fear and anxiety behaviors of male rats reared in social isolation. 

 The present experimental study investigated 32 male 21-day-old male weaned Wistar rats that were divided into two groups of saline (control) and morphine receivers (test). They were then divided into acute and chronic subgroups that were reared under social isolation conditions. The rats of the acute daily consumption group received 10 μg/kg of morphine sulfate solution via intracerebroventricular injection for 10 days, but the chronic rats received it for 60 days. After the end of dependence by its withdrawal, the rats were quitted for 5 days, and their anxiety levels were measured using the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Tukey’s posthoc test and Paired Samples t-test.

 The research results indicated that the percentage of time and number of open arm entries in rats reared in social isolation significantly decreased during the dependence phase and 5 days after withdrawal in acute and chronic groups (P<0.001). Furthermore, their anxiety rate increased compared to the control group. The findings also suggested a higher incidence of anxiety among chronic consumer groups than acute consumer groups after abstinence.

 The study findings indicated that the discontinuation of morphine consumption in social isolation could increase the incidence of anxiety behaviors in rats. Therefore, negative emotional states associated with acute and chronic morphine withdrawal could lead to anxiety-like behaviors.Keywords: Anxiety, Morphine, Social isolation, Rats.