International journal of basic science in medicine
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Mar 2020

Evidence indicates that the associations between coronary slow flow (CSF), cystatin C (Cys C), and body mass index (BMI) are unclear. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine the association among the above-mentioned parameters in female patients.

This was a descriptive-analytical study and the participants were those who were referred to the Shohada Cardiovascular Center of Urmia in 2015-2016. The participants were measured by a quantitative method under angiography (corrected TIMI frame count, CTFC) for CSF assessment, followed by evaluating physiological indices and the serum Cys C by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to analyze the correlations among CTFC, Cys C, and BMI, and a significance level of P < 0.05 was used for this test.

Sixty-six female patients (mean age: 57.01 ± 8.25 years) took part in this study. The correlations among Cys C with CTFC, and BMI (r = -0.189, P = 0.128 and r = 0.044, P = 0.724, respectively) and BMI with CTFC (r = -0.178, P = 0.153) were not meaningful in female patients’ who were candidates for angiography.

In general, the results suggested that serum Cys C cannot be considered as a predictive biomarker for the prognostic stratification of CSF and BMI in female patients aged 34-73 years who were candidates for angiography.

ntroduction: Obesity is a major risk factor for inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. We tried to assess whether 12 weeks of aerobic exercises affect serum resistin level and lipid profile in overweight females or not.

For this purpose, 32 non-trained adult females with the mean age of 38 ± 7 years old and body mass index (BMI) of 32 ± 3 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise (n=16) and control (n=16) groups. Twelve weeks of aerobic exercise program including 3 sessions weekly at 60-75% of maximum heart rate was considered. Fasting serum resistin level, lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein [LDL] and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and triglyceride [TG]), and anthropometric indexes were measured and compared between the two groups before and after training.

Serum resistin, lipid profile markers, and anthropometrical indexes were not significantly different at baseline between the two groups (P > 0.05). TG, TC, LDL, and serum resistin did not change significantly after the intervention in the exercise group (P > 0.05). However, a significant increase in HDL (exercise: 46.3 ± 9.6 vs. 51.4 ± 8.5, P = 0.011; control: 45.8 ± 7.9 vs. 46.8 ± 6.9 P = 0.326) and a significant decrease in LDL/HDL ratio (exercise: 2.94 ± 0.12 vs. 2.47 ± 0.19, P = 0.019; control: 3.14 ± 0.23 vs. 3.18 ± 0.63, P = 0.265) were observed after the intervention. Other variables in the control group remained unchanged.

Aerobic exercises had no impacts on the inflammatory profile but could improve lipid profile with an emphasis on HDL in adult obese women.

The inflammatory system, oxidative stress, and cholinergic pathways are some important factors in long-term opioid dependence withdrawal. The adverse effects of some adjunctive medications on withdrawal symptoms treatment limit their clinical efficiency and finding compounds with inhibitory effects on opioid dependence can be helpful. The antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory properties of Satureja khuzestanica extract (SKE) have been noted. Additionally, itcould reduce morphine analgesic tolerance. Given that no study has assessed the effect of SKE on morphine-induced withdrawal symptoms, we have tried to investigate it in this study.

Male Wistar rats were used in this study. The rats were treated with morphine for 7 days. The control group received saline, and intervention groups received SKE intragastrically by gavage (100 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, and 25 mg/kg) 15 minutes before morphine injections. Five hours after the last injection, naloxone was used and withdrawal symptoms were assessed for one hour. SPSS software version 16.0 was used for statistical analysis, and P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

SKE diminished weight loss and jumping (P≤0.001). It decreased grooming behaviors and cramps (P≤0.01). SKE was found to decrease morphine withdrawal symptoms and 100 mg/kg was the most effective dose. Additionally, different doses of SKE were able to eliminate ptosis, diarrhea, and teeth chattering in animals; however, different doses had different effects on withdrawal symptoms.

Naloxone significantly increased the frequency of jumping, cramps, weight loss, grooming, and induced ptosis, diarrhea, and teeth chattering. Treatment with SKE can significantly reduce morphine withdrawal symptoms. This can be done through its ability to decrease inflammation

Celiac disease (CD) is one of the most common reasons for malnutrition. This study aimed to determine the status of the micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals in children with CD.

The participants of this study included children <18 years old newly diagnosed with CD from January 2016 to December 2017 in the Clinic of Gastrointestinal and Digestive Diseases affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The diagnosis of CD was based on serological and pathologic findings. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS 22.

In the present study, 78 children with CD were evaluated, including 30 (38.5%) males and 48 (61.5%) females. The levels of hemoglobin and iron significantly improved after 6 months of treatment (P = 0.001). In the present study, the level of calcium was below the normal range in 5 (6.4%) patients at diagnosis. However, its level was within a normal range in all patients 6 months after the treatment. Based on the results, the level of phosphorus was low in 24 (30.7%) and 5 (6.4%) patients before and after the treatment, respectively (P = 0.001). Further, the vitamin D level was below a normal range in 66 (84.6%) and 15 (19.2%) patients at diagnosis and 6 months after the treatment, respectively (P = 0.001). On the other hand, the mean level of folic acid increased from 16.5 at diagnosis to 22.39 after 6 months of treatment (P = 0.001). Finally, the mean level of zinc also increased from 73.3 at diagnosis to 81.6 after 6 months of treatment (P = 0.001).

In general, the levels of iron, folate, vitamin D, and zinc reduced in patients with CD. In most patients, these deficiencies improved by receiving a gluten-free diet (GFD). Monitoring patients with CD is recommended for the diagnosis of micronutrient deficiencies.

Drug addiction is one of the most serious psychological, social, economic, and health hazards that needs prevention and treatment considering its serious consequences for the individual and human society. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and quality of life improvement training (QOLT) on distress tolerance and self-destructive behaviors in substance abusers.

This was a quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-test design and a control group. The statistical population included men over 20 years old referred to addiction treatment centers in Mashhad. The sample consisted of 45 volunteers who were selected by purposive sampling method and were divided into 3 groups (two experimental and one control group). Experimental groups received ACT and skills training based on the quality of life, while the control group did not receive any experimental intervention. The Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons and Gaher) and Self-destructive Behavior Questionnaire (Owens) were used as research tools in the study. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance using SPSS version 24.0 software.

The results of the analysis of covariance showed that the therapeutic methods used in this study were effective in improving distress tolerance and self-destructive behaviors in men with substance abuse (P < 0.001). Moreover, according to the Bonferroni follow-up test, there was no significant difference between the two treatments.

ACT and QOLT significantly improved distress tolerance and self-destructive behaviors in substance abusers.