High-intensity training increases the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and decreases the expression of pre-inflammatory cytokines in healthy individuals. However, there is limited research investigating the role of concurrent training in the expression of these cytokines in diabetics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of concurrent training on the gene expression of pre-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in females with type 2 diabetes.

In total, 12 diabetic patients (age range: 30-38 years) were selected randomly and divided into concurrent training (healthy cases, n=6), concurrent training (diabetic cases, n=6), and control (diabetic cases, n=6). The concurrent training protocol consisted of three isometric resistance training sessions with 3 sets of 8 with 80% of their one maximum repetition (  per week. Moreover, the endurance training included 30-min running (3 sets of 10 min) on a treadmill with a 70%-80% maximum heart rate. The amount of the mRNA gene expression in leukocyte (Interferon-γ[IFN-γ], Interloukin-18[IL-18], and Transforming Growth Factor [TGF-β]) was determined by the Real time-PCR technique. Quantitative gene expression was calculated using the 2-ΔΔ CT method. The differences in variables were determined by the independent t-test (permutation test) and one-way ANOVA. Ethics code: 1393.10.15

The healthy and diabetic cases showed no significant difference in terms of reduction in the IFN-γ and TGF-β mRNA gene expression after training, compared to the control group (P>0/05). In addition, the results showed that IL-18 mRNA gene was not expressed in leukocytes of healthy and diabetic cases immediately after training (P>0.05).

In conclusion, the results suggest that concurrent training in one session is not able to create an alteration in the expression of IFN-γ, IL-18, and TGF-β. This type of exercise training may require a longer duration and greater intensity to make changes.

Researchers have been investigating the major pathogens involved in septic shock caused by lipopolysaccharide in recent years. Moreover, they have been concerned about the use of appropriate drugs to intervene with the main pathogenesis of the disease. This study aimed to investigate the effect of L-Glutamine as an HSP70 inducer in reducing pre-inflammatory cytokines and effective intermediaries in septic shock, including nitric oxide production and CD40 expression in mice treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

In total, 25 Swiss Albino mice were randomly divided into three groups of A (control group, n=5), (received LPS with a dose of 0.75 mg/animal intraperitoneally [IP], (n=10), and (received L-glutamine with a dose of 50 mg/kg IP 30 minutes after the injection of LPS [three doses every 24 h], (n=10). Subsequently, one day after the final dose of drug induction, the number of cytokines, such as IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, HSP70, CD40, and nitric oxide, were evaluated in this study. Ethics code: IR.TABRIZU.REC.1398.003

The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 19) through a one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe test. According to the results, L-glutamine can significantly reduce the serum levels of pre-inflammatory cytokine, nitric oxide, and CD40 expression in the drug-treated group (group C), compared to the LPS- treated group (group B) (P<0.05).

L-glutamine could be a good choice for treatment by reducing the level of inflammatory mediators.

Colon cancer has spread to developed countries. Probiotic bacteria can play an important role in reducing cancer and treating colon cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of adjacent bovine Lactobacillus rhamnose culture on the expression of casp3 and bax genes in cancer cell.

In this experimental study after bacterial culture, supernatant and bacterial extract were prepared and the cells were treated with these materials. The effects of cell cytotoxicity of the cell line on the HT29 cell line were investigated using MTT method. After extraction of RNA and preparation of cDNA, the expression of bax, casp3 genes in the HT29 cell line was investigated using Real Time PCR.

The results of MTT assay showed that Lactobacillus ramnose at a concentration of 10 μg/ml reduced the survival of HT-29 cells by 51.49±8.32%, and the coloring results detection showed that treatment of HT29 cells with Lactobacillus rhamnosis caused qualitative changes in cell apoptosis. Real-time PCR results showed that lactobacillus rhamnose bacteria significantly increased the expression of bax genes (4.2±0.22) and casp3 (6.88±0.92) compared to control gene in cancer cells of the HT29 colon (P<0.05).

The results of this study showed that lactobacillus ramose bacteria increase the expression of bax, cas3 gene and cause induction of apoptosis in HT-29 cell line. Therefore, further studies can be used as an anti-cancer probiotic product in the treatment and prevention of colon cancer.

Attention to the biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has been increased recently since they are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and potential alternatives to chemical and physical methods. This study aimed to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using an intracellular extract of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Moreover, it was attempted to evaluate their antibacterial and antioxidant effects.

After the preparation and identification of the physical characteristics of the ZnO NPs, their antioxidant activity was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP). Moreover, the antibacterial activity of NPs was tested against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) using a disc diffusion method. Ethics code: IR.ausmt.rec.1398.11.33

The results showed that the synthesized NPs had a spherical shape, and their diameter size was < 30 nm. A good absorption at 370 nm confirmed the presence of ZnO NPs. These NPs depicted an improved antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Moreover, they showed concentration-dependent antioxidant activity in both DPPH and FRAP.

The results indicated that the biosynthesized ZnO NPs had antibacterial and antioxidant activities. This suggests that ZnO NPs can be used in food packaging and cosmetic products. In addition, they can be utilized as an alternative to synthetic antibiotics. However, further studies are required to be conducted in this regard.

Brucellosis is a health problem that annually causes enormous economic and health damage to society. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an educational program on knowledge, attitude, and preventive behaviors of brucellosis in Holilan, Chardavol, Iran, to reduce the incidence of this disease.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted based on a pretest-posttest design. The study population included 209 cases who referred to the health centers in Holilan, Iran. The participants were selected randomly. Data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire to measure knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors of brucellosis among the participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version16) through the paired t-test and Chi-square test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean age of the participants was 28.5±7.3 years, 66.5% of whom were female. There was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest regarding the mean scores of knowledge (P=0.001), attitude (P=0.025), and preventive behaviors (P=0.001).

The study showed the positive effect of the educational program on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the participants regarding brucellosis prevention.

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the onset and development of diabetes complications. This study aimed to investigate the effect of aerobic training with berberine chloride on indices changes of oxidative stress in the heart tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In total, 32 male Wistar rats (276.09±17.03) were randomly divided into four groups of eight per group, including Diabetes (DM) (277.65±18.59), Diabetes-Berberine (BDM) (281.57±14.04), Diabetes-Aerobic Training (TDM) (262.38±12.14), and Diabetes-Aerobic Training-Berberine (TBDM) (282.78±17.05). Diabetes was induced by the injection of streptozotocin in male rats. The training groups performed a progressive aerobic running program (10-18 m/min, 10-40 min/day, and 5 days/week) on a motor-driven treadmill for six weeks. At the end of the sixth week, heart tissue specimens were collected and used for the determination of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., SOD, GPX, and CAT) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and ANOVA. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethics code: IR.PNU.REC.1397.033

The results showed that aerobic training, berberine, and exercise-berberine combination significantly increased SOD (P=0.001), GPX (P=0.000), and CAT (P=0.001) of the heart tissue in diabetic rats. Moreover, a significant increase was observed in these indices in the TBDM group, compared to the BDM and TDM groups (P<0.05). The MDA level in all experimental groups was significantly lower than that in the diabetic group (P=0.001).

Aerobic training combined with berberine chloride has remarkable interactive effects on the improvement of oxidative stress markers in the heart tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Iranian women. ELF5 gene as a transcription factor member of the ETS family could play a key role in breast cancer neoplasms, especially basal-like and endocrine-resistant subtypes. The changes in the gene promoter methylation pattern are considered proper targets in the therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of this epigenetic phenomenon and ELF5 gene expression as well as their association with pathologic and clinical characteristics of Iranian patients suffering from this cancer. 

Materials & Methods:

In order to investigate the ELF5 promoter methylation, 134 breast tissues were analyzed using methylation-specific PCR method. Moreover, 164 tumoral and 10 normal breast tissues retrieved from breast reduction surgery were assessed using Real-Time RT-PCR to analyze the gene expression. Ethics code: 52d/4922, 6.10.2016

The data revealed that about 70% of the breast cancer tumoral specimens showed ELF5 promoter methylated pattern. Furthermore, the down-regulation of ELF5 gene expression was significantly associated with higher cancer stages, being triple-negative, and invasion.

Discussions & Conclusions:

The results revealed that an increase in the ELF5 promoter methylation frequency in patients, compared to the control tissues, and its association with poor prognosis indicators may propose the ELF5 promoter methylation as a possible candidate in further studies to confirm the poor prognostic role of this biomarker in breast cancer.

Experimental and clinical studies have shown that exercise training is one of the most effective strategies for reducing the progression of cardiomyopathy and decreasing the incidence of cardiovascular complications and mortality due to myocardial ischemia. This study aimed to investigate the role of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in the expression of Hand2 and Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) genes in cardiac ischemia rats. Materials &

In this study, 28 male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were randomly divided into four groups of sham, ischemia, exercise, and exercise-ischemia. Myocardial infarction was performed by the closure of the left anterior descending artery for 30 min. In total, 40- min HIIT (each interval consisted of 4-min very high intensity running with approximately 85% to 90% maximum rate of oxygen consumption [VO2max] followed by 2-min active recovery with approximately 50% to 60% VO2max) were performed three days a week for eight weeks. Ethics code: IR.SSRI.REC.1396.134

The results showed that the expression level of the Hand2 gene in the ischemia-training group was significantly increased, compared to the sham (P=0.001) and ischemia (P=0.001) groups. Furthermore, the concentration of PI3K in the exercise and exercise-ischemia groups was significantly increased, compared to the sham (P=0.001) and ischemia (P=0.001) groups. However, there was a decrease in the ischemia group, compared to the other groups (P<0.05). Discussions &

The findings of the present study showed that HIIT leads to increased expression of the Hand2 gene and PI3K. Furthermore, the HIIT results in physiological hypertrophy. On the other hand, the pathological hypertrophy of these variables is reduced in this study.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of psychological flexibility training based on acceptance and commitment therapy on emotional burnout and emotional labor among nurses working at hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. Materials &

This semi-experimental was conducted based on a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The study population included all nurses working at hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran, during 2019. In total, 40 nurses were selected using the purposeful sampling method based on the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The participants in both groups were requested to respond to the Maslach burnout inventory and the Diefendorff et al. emotional labor scale before and after the intervention. The experimental group participated in three sessions of psychological flexibility training based on acceptance and commitment therapy. On the other hand, the control group awaited for the intervention. The data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of covariance. Ethics code: EE/97.24.3.17688/SCU.AC.IR

The results of the data analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of emotional burn out (F=223.014, P=0.001) and emotional labor (F=273.731, P=0.001). Discussions &

Based on the findings, it can be stated that psychological flexibility training based on acceptance and commitment therapy can be used to reduce emotional burnout and emotional labor among nurses.

Today, with the advancements in technology and the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)in various products, serious concerns have been raised about the use of this substance. This study aimed to determine the effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid(ALA) as a potent antioxidant against the toxicity of AgNPs on kidney tissue of NMRI mice.

In this experimental study, 24 adult male NMRI mice with a mean weight of 36±2 g were randomly allocated into four groups of control, AgNPs (500 mg/kg/day), ALA (100 mg/kg/day), and AgNPs+ALA. Subsequently, they were treated orally for 35 days and sacrificed. The left kidney was taken out, fixed, sectioned, processed, and stained using the hematoxylin-eosin method. Following that, the biochemical and stereological parameters of the kidney, such as the volume calculation of its various components were measured in this study. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16). Ethics code: P/2/97s3113

In this study, there was a significant increase in the mean volume of the renal corpuscle (P<0.005), glomerulus (P<0.001), Taft (P<0.001), and Bowman capsule membrane (P<0.001); however, a significant decrease was observed in the mean total volume of Bowman capsule space (P<0.001) and proximal tubule lumen volume (P<0.05) in the AgNPs group, compared to the control group. The level of urea and malondialdehyde (P<0.001) was increased in the AgNPs group, compared to the control group. In addition, total antioxidant capacity (P<0.001) showed a significant decrease. Discussions &

The ALA has a protective role in ameliorating kidney damage caused by silver nanoparticles.