[Effect of a 10 week high intensity interval training supplemented with green tea on lipid profiles and body composition in overweight women]

Background and Aim: Increasing the intensity of physical activity along with regular consumption of green tea can be effective on energy metabolism, weight, and body fat content. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a 10 week. .high intensity interval training supplemented with consuming green tea .on lipid profiles and body composition in overweight women

Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 overweight women were purposefully and randomly chosen and divided into 3 equal groups. Training group performed training programs including 3 sessions per week at maximum intensity of 85-95% heart rate and the supplement group consumed 3 tablets of green tea [500 mg] daily for 10 weeks High intensity interval training and the supplement group both underwent intervention. Blood samples were collected before and after the intervention in fasting state. Finally, the obtained data was fed into SPSS software [V. 19] and analyzed using paired t test, covariance analysis, one way-variance analysis, and Bonferroni post- hoc tests at the significant level of P<0.05

Results: After the period of high intensity interval training and green tea supplementation triglycerides [P=0.001], LDL [P=0.02], weight [P=0.0001], body mass index [P=0.0001], and body fat percentage [P=0.0001] in all the groups and total cholesterol [P=0.01] decreased, but HDL [P=0.01] increased in high intensity interval training plus supplements and high intensity interval training plus placebo groups. However, these two indicators did not differ significantly in the supplement group [P=0.23 and P=0.06, respectively]. Furthermore, systolic [P= 0.55] and diastolic [P= 0.15] blood pressure and waist-to-hip ratio [P= 0.08] did not change after intervention in all the groups

Conclusion: It was found that consumption of green tea along with performing of high intensity interval training can be effective in improving of cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women

relationship between perceived life changes and mental health in family caregivers of patients with heart failure who referred to Rajaei cardiovascular medical and research center, Tehran

Caring for a patient with heart failure can be a challenging and stressful situation. However, researchers have paid less attention to caregiving outcomes in heart failure caregivers. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between perceived life changes and mental health of family caregivers of heart failure patients. Through a correlational design, a convenience sample of 90 Iranian family caregivers of patients with heart failure was selected. Data were collected using demographic-clinical characteristics form, Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale and General Health Questionnaire-28. Data were analyzed in SPSS using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Half of the caregivers reported that their lives had changed for the worse and nearly three fourths were suspected cases of mental disorders. There was a strong negative correlation between perceived life changes and mental health [r=-0.607, P<0.001]. This finding remained consistent [B=-0.522, P<0.001] even when potential confounding factors including caregiver's age [B=-0.222, P=0.016], caregiver's marital status [B=-6.085, P=0.025], and patient's age [B=-0.153, P=0.030] were controlled. Being younger, unmarried caregiver and caring of younger patients were identified as other correlated factors of poor caregivers' mental health. The strong negative correlation between perceived life changes and mental health in caregivers of patients with heart failure suggests that the heart failure caregivers with poor mental health may benefit from nursing interventions that improve appropriate coping with life changes related to caregiving

Effects of an intensive resistant training sessions and green tea supplementation on malondialdehyde and total thiol in non-athlete women

Intensive and acute exercise trainings may induce oxidative stress, but antioxidant supplements may attenuate its degenerative consequences. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of green tea supplementation on the oxidative stress indices after an intensive resistance training session. 40 non-athletes [without regular physical activity] women were randomly divided into 4 equal [n=10] groups including green tea supplementation, green tea supplementation plus resistance training, resistance training, and control groups. After supplementation period [600 mg/day, 14 days], resistance training and green tea supplementation plus resistance training groups performed an intensive resistance training session at 75-85% of one repetition maximum. The malondialdehyde and total thiol were measured as oxidative stress indices. Data were analyzed by using of repeated measure ANOVA and LSD tests at p<0.05. Results showed that after 14 days of green tea consumption, malondialdehyde significantly decreased in green tea supplementation [p=0.03] and green tea supplementation plus resistance training [p=0.01] groups, while total thiol increased significantly [p=0.01] in two green tea supplementation groups. However, an intensive resistance training session increased malondialdehyde [p=0.01] without any significantly changes in total thiol [p=0.42]. It seems that green tea supplementation can inhibit exercise-induced protein and lipid oxidation in non-athletes women via enhancement of antioxidant defense system of the body

Mental health in family caregivers of patients with heart failure

Family caregivers of patients with heart failure [HF] deal with a wide range of problems related to caregiving that influence their mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the mental health status of the family caregivers of patients with HF. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 90 family caregivers of patients with HF, who referred Shahid Rajaei Cardiovascular Center, were selected through convenience sampling method. The data were collected using General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-28] for measuring mental health and were also analyzed by SPSS 16, and then processed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation test. The mean score of GHQ-28 was 33.06 +/- 14.34 [range: 9–72]. The majority of caregivers [74.4%] were suspected cases of mental health disorders. Regarding to instrument subscales, the prevalence of caregivers' problems were 65.6% in somatic symptoms, 82.2% in anxiety/insomnia, 83.3% in social dysfunction, and 25.6% in depression. The total GHQ-28 score of the caregivers gradually decreased with increasing patient's age as in the minimum age group of the patients [aged 40 years and lower], the highest mean score of GHQ-28 was observed [P < 0.05]. A considerable proportion of family caregivers of patients with HF were suspected cases of mental health disorders. A routine assessment of mental health in this group of caregivers should be considered to identify those at risk. Also, clinical team should design and implement effective programs aimed at improving the mental health, especially in caregiver who provide care for younger patients

[Assessment of crocin toxicity on the rat liver]

Crocin, the carotenoid isolated from saffron, has numerous medicinal properties which include anticancer and antioxidant activities. Some antioxidants, such as carotenoids, can act as pro-oxidants at higher dosages and therefore induce tissue damage. In this situation antioxidant defense systems in the liver activate to prevent tissue damage. This study investigates the possible toxic effects of crocin on the liver of normal rats. Normal rats were randomly divided into four groups. Group 1 was treated with normal saline as the control and groups 2 to 4 were treated different doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg crocin intraperitoneally once a week for four weeks. Animals were killed one week after the last injection. Serum profile of the rats that included ALT, AST, ALP, urea, uric acid and creatinine, as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes [SOD, CAT and GPx], GSH content, and lipid and protein oxidation by measurement of MDA and protein carbonyl levels were assessed in the liver. In addition, we conducted histopathological examinations of the liver specimens. We studied different crocin concentrations that have been used to treat various diseases. There were no significant changes in serum parameters, GSH, MDA, protein carbonyls and activities of CAT and SOD at the different crocin concentrations. Histopathological examination did not show any changes in the liver. Only the higher dose [200 mg/kg] decreased GPx activity which might be reversible over the long-term. Crocin, at the studied doses showed no toxic effects on the rat liver

Impact of maternal fasting during Ramadan on growth parameters of exclusively breastfed infants in Shahroud, 2012

There are many advantages in breastfeeding of infants. The impact of fasting of breastfeeding mothers during Ramadan, on their exclusively breastfed infants' growth, is still unclear. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of maternal Ramadan fasting on growth parameters of exclusively breastfed infants. This cohort study was conducted on 55 healthy, exclusively breastfed infants, aged 1 to 6 months, during Ramadan and three months after it. 20 infants, whose mothers fasted throughout Ramadan [case group] and 35 infants, whose mothers did not fast [control group], were enrolled in the study. All infants underwent periodic physical examinations, twice in Ramadan and 3 times in the first, second and the third months after Ramadan. The data analyses were done using a repeated measure analysis of variance. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Analyses were performed using SPSS statistical package and repeated measures ANOVA. The average age was 3.43 +/- 1.38 months in the case group and 2.31 +/- 1.45 months in the control group that presence no significant difference between. From the total number of infants, 23 cases [41.8%] were males and the rest were females. All growth parameters increased during the study period [P<0.05], with the same rate of increase for both groups [P=0.125]. Ramadan fasting by breastfeeding mothers did not adversely affect the growth parameters of exclusively breastfed infants in short-term

[General self-efficacy among family's female caregiver of elderly with Alzheimer's disease]

Caregivers of elderly with Alzheimer's disease, particularly females, encounter challenges. Their different roles in giving care to the patients could result in physical and mental disorders. The self-efficacy seems to be an essential factor in empowering individuals coping with stressful situations and challenging tasks. The aim of this study was to investigate general self-efficacy among women as family caregivers of elderly with Alzheimer's disease. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 112 women reffered to the Iran Alzheimer Association, Tehran were selected through convenience sampling method. The General Self-Efficacy Scale [GSE-10] was used to collect data. Data were entered into the SPSS-16 and then processed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe. The mean score of the general self-efficacy was 28.24 +/- 6.34 indicating that considerable percentage of the participants had unsatisfactory level of self-efficacy [65.2%]. In addition, there were significant relationships between the women's general self-efficacy with educational and economic statuses [P<0.05]. There were no significant relationships between general self-efficacy with age, marital status, occupational status and duration of caring. According to the findings, a considerable percentage of the participants had unsatisfactory level of self-efficacy. Therefore, it is essential to promote the caregivers self-efficacy in order to give them the ability of better adaptation with the life's challenges. In particular, the self-efficacy promotive programs should be implemented among caregivers with lower educational and economic status

[Waste load allocation for sub-basins of Amir Kabir dam reservoir using QUAL2K model]

Amir Kabir dam was built in Varian strait, at 23 km north of Karaj in 1961. The dam is multipurpose and its maim aims are the spring floods control, supplying potable water for Tehran city, producing electricity and providing irrigation water. Different pollutants which discharge to the river finally enter to the dam reservoir. Determining the pollution loads of the dam sub-catchments can help to prepare an effective pollution control plan. This study focuses on determining the discharged pollution loads of the sub-catchments which enter the dam reservoir, and their ranking. It can facilitate the decision process which constrains by financial and time issues. Firstly, the pollution load of the sub-catchments for different parameters such as TDS, CBOD, ammonium, nitrate and phosphate were determined and then the discharged load to the dam reservoir was simulated by using QUAL2K model. Finally, the sub-catchments loads ranked to five classes include very low, low, moderate, high and very high and the pollution zoning maps was prepared by GIS. The results showed the loads of the river tributaries are more than the main stream, especially sub-catchments of Velayatroud, Shahrestanak, and Siera which take accounted of more than one-third of the discharged loads to the reservoir and should have high priority in pollution prevention and control plans

[Frequency of skin cancers in Hamedan from 1991 to 2007]

Skin cancers are one of the most common malignancies in the world and create a high rate of morbidity but low rate of mortality with the exception of malignant melanoma that has a high mortality rate. In recent decades, incidence of skin cancer has been increased. The most important risk factors are sunlight and skin type. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of skin cancers in patients who were admitted to Sina Hospital of Hamedan during a 17-year period. In this cross-sectional study, 951 patients with different types of skin cancer, entered in the study. For each patient, data related to age, gender, location, occupation, pathologic type of cancer and site of skin involvement, were collected. The mean age [mean +/- standard deviation] of patients was 61.6 +/- 15.3 years [2-100 yrs] and most of them [67.2%] were males and workers [%38]. The most common pathologic types of skin cancer were basal cell carcinoma [BCC] [59%] and squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] [29%]. The most frequent site of tumor expression was face [61.2%] and the least frequent involved site was genitalia [0.4%]. This study showed that skin cancer is more common in males, old patients and workers. It was more common on the face. Screening program for detection of this disease at an earlier stage of elderly men especially in sun exposed occupations is recommended

Cockroaches as reservoirs and vectors of drug resistant salmonella spp

Cockroaches were collected from hospitals, houses and poultry sheds in various parts of Isfahan [Iran] and identified to species. In total, seven species of cockroaches in seven genera were identified: Blatta lateralis, Polyphaga aegyptiaca, Arenivaga roseni and Parcoblatta spp. Three species Periplaneta americana, Blattella germanica and Supella longipalpa [Blattidae and Blattellidae] were more abundant than the others. In another study, forty cockroaches were collected from hospitals in two experiments and were studied for the presence of Salmonella spp. Salmonella [Black colonies on SS agar with urease negative] were isolated from about 70% of the cockroaches collected from hospitals. Some of the isolated Salmonella were resistant to antibacterial drugs in a susceptibility test. Isolation of Salmonella from cockroaches collected from hospitals suggests that cockroaches act as natural reservoirs of Salmonella. A second study was conducted to determine if individual B. germanica could transfer Salmonella from an infected food source and then infects uncontaminated colony members. The results showed that the inoculation of 106 CFU of Salmonella into cockroaches via their food could infect the uncontaminated cockroaches. These contaminated cockroaches transfer infection to other colony members. Salmonella is stable in cockroaches for more than 10 months