Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences
Volume:5 Issue: 1, Winter 2019

The acute exercise causes induction of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Considering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of L-arginine, in this study we have investigated effects of L-arginine consumption on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers following exhaustive training in young bodybuilders.

In an interventional study, 30 young bodybuilders were divided into two equal groups, placebo (consuming L-arginine) and supplementation (consuming dextrose). Each individual received 3 g/day of L-arginine or dextrose for one week. During the supplementation, all participants performed one week exhaustive training according the specific protocol. Blood samples were collected before (at baseline) and immediately after first training session (for evaluating acute effects) and also after one week training. Finally serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in all samples by ELISA.

The results showed that exhaustive training caused a significantly increase in levels of CRP, MDA and IL6 (p<0.05). Our results revealed that the L-arginine consumption could prevent exercise-induced increasing in concentration of these factors following trainings. Also, positive correlations were observed between CRP with IL6, CRP with MDA and IL6 with MDA before the training.

Performing acute and chronic exhaustive training even in athlete causes increasing in inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers and consumption of L-arginine could modulate chronic and acute exhaustive exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

 The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of maternal pre- and early postnatal ethanol consumption on hepatic transcriptional factors, gene expression transition, liver enzymes alteration, as well as structural changes in the developing rat liver both on  postnatal (PN) day 21 and 90.

Pregnant Wistar rats received ethanol (4.5g/kg BW) once per day from Gestation Day (GD) 7 throughout lactation. The mRNA expression of hepatic Fatty Acid Translocase (FAT)/CD36, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha (HNF4A) gene expressions, as well as liver structural changes were measured in 21 and 90 day-old offspring of ethanol rats and were then compared to the control rats.

 Ethanol exposed fetal livers showed a significant up-regulation in FAT / CD36, PTP1B and down-regulation in HNF4A gene expression, as well as an increase in the liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of the offspring on PN 21 and PN 90 compared to the offspring in the control group. In addition, in the ethanol group, cholesterol levels showed a significant increase on PN 21 and PN 90, and triglyceride showed an increase on PN 90, compared to the control group. Histopathological changes, such as ballooning degeneration, feathery degeneration, spotty necrosis, cholestasis, and fibrosis were also observed in the liver of the offspring after 21 and 90 days from birth.

In conclusion, results of the current study provide evidence that prenatal ethanol exposure influences liver lipid metabolism through hepatic transcriptional factors, gene expression transition and hepatic enzyme including ALT and AST changes.

 Women are vulnerable and face variety of problems during pregnancy that can affect mental health and life quality. Pregnancy complications make pregnant women more prone to loss of quality of life and mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotic supplement on quality of life and depression in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

In this double blind randomized clinical trial, performed on pregnant women with GDM referring to the specialized centers of gynecology and endocrinology in Tabriz, 64 pregnant women with GDM in 24-28 weeks of pregnancy were randomly assigned to receive either probiotic supplementation or placebo for 8 weeks. Probiotic supplement was a combination of four strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. The short form of Iranian species of World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life and the Edinburgh Depression Inventory to assess depression before and after intervention.

Fifty six surveyed individuals completed the study. The effect of probiotic supplementation on changes in the physical dimension of quality of life was significant, with statistically remarkable increase of 2.59 ± 2.19 units in the probiotic group compared with 2.25 ± 0.88 decrease in the placebo group (p = 0.045). Also, the increase in mean of total quality of life in the probiotic group was 5.17 ± 1.46 units which was significant compared with 0.46 ± 1.61 units increase in the placebo group (p = 0.029). The effect of probiotic supplementation in comparison with placebo was significant in improving depression (p = 0.042).

It seems that probiotic supplementation promotes quality of life and depression levels in pregnant women with GDM.

This study was designed to assess and the cardiac apoptosis after the prenatal and early postnatal ethanol treatment in pups.

Pregnant Wistar rats treated with ethanol 4.5g/kg BW once per day from the seventh day of gestation (GD7) throughout lactation. Apoptotic cells, body wight, heart weight and their association on postnatal day 21 (PN-21) and postnatal day 90 (PN-90) was evaluated in male pups.

The results showed that maternal ethanol consumption increased apoptotic cells, decreased heart weight, body weight, and HW/BW after 21 and 90 days of birth compared with the controls. It has found more apoptotic cells in 90 days after births compared with 21 days of age.

our findings revealed that maternal ethanol intake in pups decreased HW/BW ratio in part through apoptosis, which is more predominant in 90 days of age.

Iron overload is one of the medical problems in some diseases. Recent reports have indicated a need for iron chelator. In this study, the possible iron chelating properties of aqueous extracts of A.graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle on total iron binding capacity, iron and ferritin levels in iron overloaded rats were investigated.

Fresh A.graveolens and Urtica dioica leaves and milk thistle seeds were obtained from the local market. Fortyeight male rats were randomly divided into six groups: negative control (normal), positive control (iron overload) and groups treated with deferoxamine (DFO), aqueous extracts of A.graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle. Iron dextran was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at 50mg/kg body weight/day to establish the iron overload for twelve weeks. Normal group rats received normal saline, while the rats of the treated groups received (orally) aqueous extracts of A.graveolens, Urtica dioica and Milk thistle and DFO daily for eight weeks. Changes in biochemical factors were measured at the end of the experiment.

After twelve weeks of iron dextran treatment, we found a significant increase in iron and ferritin levels and a decrease in total iron binding capacity (TIBC) level compared to normal group (229.0±5.85, 181.22±5.53 and 200.54 ±1.51 vs. 131.90±6.85, 50.25 ±4.01 and 291.71, respectively). After eight weeks of treatment with extracts and DFO, there was significant reduction in serum iron level of extracts of A.graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle and DFO treated groups compared to iron overloaded group (185.81±3.5, 180.88±2.73, 200.6±2.44, 176.48 ±2.29 vs. 229.0±85.5). Also, there was a significant increase in serum TIBC level in the extracts of A.graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle and DFO treated groups compared to iron‑overloaded rats (218.62±2.44, 226.74±2.71, 211.06±1.86, 231.57 ±2.05 vs. 200.54±1.51, respectively). Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in serum ferritin level in the extracts of A.graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle and DFO treated groups compared to iron‑overloaded rats (130.49±4.24, 121.96±4.31, 140.63±3.82, 112.87 ±4.60 vs.181.22±5.53). So after eight weeks treatment with aqueous extracts of A.graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle, we found a significant reduction in iron and ferritin and an increase in TIBC level. These effects indicated the following hierarchy: Urticadioica >Anethum graveolens > milk thistle.

Anethum graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle extracts may be a potential herbal plant to reduce liver damage caused by iron overload. These results indicated that Anethum graveolens, Urtica dioica and milk thistle extracts can preserve liver function.

 Microbiological quality of environments is an important criterion that must be taken into account when indoor workplaces are designed to provide a safe environment.  Therefore the purpose of this study is to provide insight into how students are exposed to fungal contamination of the dormitory indoor and to figure out the major possible factors that govern the contamination levels.

The study samples were obtained from two female dormitories of UMS University. The specimens were collected by using sterile swabs from indoor environments such as rooms, kitchens, washrooms /bathrooms, corridors and study rooms. A morphologic identification was performed using colony features and microscopic characteristics for the fungal isolates, and the findings were confirmed by PCR-RFLP molecular method.

Molds and yeasts were recovered from the indoor places including rooms, study room, kitchens and bathrooms from student life areas of the dormitories. A total of 160 swab samples yielded fungal growth. The number of fungal colonies recorded was 458 cps (colony per swab) included common mold: A. flavus (31.7%), A. fumigatus (28.7%), A. niger (5.8%) and yeasts: Candida albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. krusei. The black fungi (dematiaceus fungi) were totally isolated 67 (11.5%) followed by other molds included Penicillium (9.5%), Rhizopus (4.3%), Scopolariopsis (0.5%), Pseudoallescheria and Fusarium (0.35% each).

Our findings show that Aspergillus species are most common fungi contaminant dormitories indoor and kitchens contain most species and numbers of molds.

Ischemic stroke is always more common than hemorrhagic type. Approximately, 80% of the risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of stroke are modifiable. Identification and correction of these risk factors contributes to reducing the risk of stroke incidence, subsequent clinical consequences, disabilities, costs, and mortality of these patients.

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 1,572 patients with ischemic stroke hospitalized during 2008-2015 were investigated. Patients data was collected in a questionnaire containing demographic information, drug and disease history, laboratory findings and events during hospitalization and follow-up period.

Among 1,572 patients, 744 (47.3%) were male and 828 (52.7%) female. The number of patients who died during hospitalization was 252 (16%) and 453 (34.3%) died during the follow-up period. The most important modifiable risk factors for stroke incidence included smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. Also, the use of aspirin in both genders and statin consumption in males was associated with decreased rate of mortality. A series of laboratory findings, such as increased urea, creatinine, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol and neutrophil count, was associated with an increased risk of mortality as well as, decreased lymphocyte count, increased RBC, hemoglobin, platelet count, and triglyceride were associated with a reduction in stroke mortality.

This study confirms the results of previous studies about modifiable risk factors of ischemic stroke incidence such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking. Laboratory findings such as neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet count, hemoglobin, urea, RBC, lipid and glucose profiles associated with ischemic stroke mortality. Life style modification and preventive medication such as aspirin and statins reduce the risk of stroke incidence, disability and mortality of ischemic stroke in the community.

Crocus Sativus Petals are a dusted waste that contains bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antibacterial activities of Crocus Sativus petals extract (CSPE). The cytotoxic effects of CSPE on human liver cancer cells (HepG2) were performed using MTT assay. Then, cell morphology was determined by inverted microscope. The antioxidant activity of CSPE was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays. Antibacterial activity of CSPE was tested against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and gram positive bacteria staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using macrodilution method. CSPE inhibited the proliferation of the HepG2 cell line in a time and dose-dependent manner, which was consistent with morphological changes. Extract showed the enhanced antioxidant properties and also were found effective against the bacterial strains. Due to the anti-proliferative, antioxidant, antibacterial effects of CSPE, it can be used in pharmaceutical industry, including the production of anticancer, antioxidants and antibacterial drugs.