Thrita
Volume:12 Issue: 31, Jun 2023

 In the Iranian-Islamic culture, the family is considered a valuable and important social unit. However, in recent years, developments in society have increased family breakdowns and diminished familial relationships. Therefore, designing a conceptual model and identifying effective educational components for couples is a dire need of Iranian society to strengthen families.

 This study aimed to develop and validate educational strategies for couples to enhance family bonds through qualitative expert analysis.

 This qualitative study was conducted with an exploratory-descriptive approach, and the population included all university professors and experts on marriage and family. With purposive sampling, 32 experts in Yazd, Iran, were selected. The data were collected through semistructured interviews, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using grounded theory and Strauss and Corbin's systematic approach.

 The findings based on open coding of 124 statements revealed 14 concepts in 7 categories. By combining the categories, axial coding introduced 4 main components (couples' insight and awareness, communication and cultural literacy, mental and emotional health, and rational-emotional strategies). Selective coding, along with the graphic design of a paradigmatic framework, represented the final theory.

 Attention to these dimensions and components can provide a roadmap for assessing and resolving marital difficulties by marriage counselors and couples therapists.

 Meteorin-like protein (METRNL) is a novel adipomyokine that may improve glucose tolerance, and its circulating levels are affected by changes in body weight.

 This study aimed to evaluate the effects of eight weeks of resistance training (RT) and high sucrose consumption on serum and adipose tissue METRNL levels in male rats.

 In this study, 32 Wistar male rats were divided into normal diet and high sucrose diet groups. After 4 weeks, each group was divided into control and training groups. The rats in the training group were subjected to the RT program (3 days/week, for 8 weeks). In addition to serum and adipose tissue levels of METRNL, we measured epididymal and mesenteric fat mass, serum glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

 High sucrose diet increased fat weights and serum levels of glucose, insulin, and IR index; nevertheless, it reduced the serum levels of METRNL. RT decreased serum insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR. The result of two-way ANOVA and the t-test showed that eight weeks of RT decreased serum levels of METRNL, insulin, and HOMA-IR in sugar solution-fed rats.

 The results suggest that RT may be an effective intervention to reduce serum METRNL and HOMA-IR levels, which is associated with improving body composition.

 Testosterone enhances athletic performance in men and women, but its consumption has several side effects and is banned from most competitive sports. This study aimed to examine the effect of date palm pollen extracts (DPPE or Phoenix dactylifera L.), testosterone enanthate (T), and resistance training (RT) alone and in combination on hepatic damage and mitochondrial function of adult male rats.

 Thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: Control (C), RT-treated, DPPE-treated, T-treated, DPPE+RT-treated, and T+RT-treated. The DPPE-treated animals received 100 mg/kg DPPE by gavage (five days/week for four weeks). T was injected subcutaneously into the target groups at a dose of 2 mg/kg daily (five days/week for four weeks). Moreover, the RT program was performed using a vertical ladder with weights (five days/week for four weeks).

 RT, T, and DPPE significantly reduced collagen degradation, apoptotic cells, dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) protein expression, and increased mitofusin-1 (Mfn-1) gene and protein expression in liver tissue. RT with T/DPPE showed a synergic effect regarding present study variables.

 It seems that DPP, which is a natural compound, has less damaging effects than T on liver tissue. It can be used as a safe alternative to T injection for the enhancement of athletic performance and T deficiency.

 Obesity causes skeletal muscle metabolic disorders by altering the expression of the genes involved in lipid metabolism. One of the genes that play an important role in lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle tissue is sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP).

 Since the interacting effect of aerobic exercise and high-fat diet on the expression of this gene has not been well studied, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on the expression of the SREBP-1c gene in skeletal muscle in obese female rats.

 Eighteen female Wistar rats in the weight range of 180 - 200 grams were selected and randomly divided into three groups: (1) control fed with a normal diet; (2) control fed with a high-fat diet; and (3) aerobic exercise plus a high-fat diet. The high-fat diet contained 40% fat (20% soybean oil and 20% animal fat), 13% protein, and 47% carbohydrates. The rats were initially fed with a high-fat diet for 6 weeks, and then they performed aerobic exercise on a treadmill 5 times a week for 6 weeks. Forty-eight hours after the last training session and after eleven hours of fasting, the rats were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine. Quadriceps tissues were removed to determine the SREBP-1c gene’s expression by real-time PCR.

 Feeding with a high-fat diet significantly increased the weight of rats (P = 0.001). The expression of the SREBP-1c gene in the group fed with the high-fat diet decreased significantly compared to the group fed with the normal diet (P = 0.001). Aerobic exercise significantly increased the expression of the SREBP-1c gene in the quadriceps muscle (P = 0.001), contradicting the effect of the high-fat diet on the expression of this gene.

 Aerobic training may alleviate lipid metabolism disorders in muscles by increasing the expression of the SREBP-1c gene. Therefore, aerobic exercises can be used to contradict the metabolic complications caused by the high-fat diet in skeletal muscles.

 Rehabilitation can help improve the condition and quality of life of patients with heart failure. Some patients do not have the opportunity to use the rehabilitation services of clinics specifically designed to help them.

 This study investigated the effect of eight weeks of home cardiorespiratory rehabilitation exercise on the cardiac performance of 40-60-year-old patients with heart failure.

 Forty-three subjects with heart failure were divided into three groups in a semi-empirical design: Rehabilitation (n = 13), rehabilitation exercise with respiratory exercise (n = 15), and control (n = 15). Resting heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure at rest, ejection fraction, ventilatory threshold, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) were measured before and after the test.

 The results indicated no significant effect of cardiorespiratory rehabilitation exercise on the patients' resting heart rate, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and ventilatory threshold (P > 0.05). However, the respiratory exercise significantly increased the injection fraction and VO2 max.

 Exercises that can reinforce respiratory muscles can further help patients with heart failure, at least in some cases. More intense and controlled exercises than home exercises may be required to improve cardiovascular performance.