Effects of using eucalyptus [Eucalyptus globulus L.] leaf powder and its essential oil on growth performance and immune response of broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of eucalyptus leaf powder [ELP] and eucalyptus essential oil [EEO] on growth performance and immune response of broiler chickens. A total of 160 broiler chicks were assigned randomly into five dietary treatments from 7-42 days of age. Dietary treatments included: a control diet, control diets plus 1,000 or 3,000 mg/kg of ELP, and control diets plus 250 or 500 mg/kg of EEO. Dietary inclusion of ELP decreased body weight gain [BWG] during 7-28 days of age. Broilers fed diet containing 3,000 mg/kg of ELP had lower feed intake [FI] during 7-28 days compared to the other treatments. Broilers fed ELP or EEO had greater primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells [SRBC] compared to the control, but differences in secondary antibody response were not significant. In conclusion, dietary EEO has the potential to enhance immune response of broiler chickens

[Independent and combined effect of aerobic exercise and garlic extract on the level of renal vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in the eldely rats]

Background and Objective: Aging eldely is associated with impaired angiogenesis, glomerulosclerosis and increased susceptibility to nephrotoxic injury. This study was done to compare the independent and combined effect of aerobic exercise and garlic extract on the levels of renal vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and transforming growth factor-beta 1 [TGF-beta 1] in eldely rats

Methods: In this experimental study, 35 aged eldely male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups including control, sham, garlic [2.5 g/kg/bw], aerobic exercise, garlic plus exercise. The animals exercised by swimming training at 5 min to 60 min per day, 3 days a week over 8 weeks. Animals in garlic plus exercise were received garlic extract [2.5 g/kg/bw] and swimming training. The renal TGF-beta 1 and VEGF level were evaluated by ELIZA method

Results: 8 weeks swimming training, garlic supplementation and the combined intervention were associated with a significant increased the renal VEGF and reduced TGF-beta 1 level [P<0.05]. There was no difference between swimming training, garlic supplementation and garlic plus exercise on renal VEGF and TGF-beta 1 levels in aged rats

Conclusion: It seems that the protective role of regular swimming training, garlic supplementation and the combined intervention in the renal aging process might in part be related to their ability to attenuate TGF- beta 1 and up regulating VEGF

[Effect of 8 weeks aerobic exercise and vitamin C on liver transaminases activities in obese 8-11 years girls]

Background and Objective: Liver diseases accompanied with growing of obesity in children. This study was done to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise and vitamin C intake on liver transaminases activities in 8-11 years obese girls

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 28 obese girls were randomly divided into four equal groups including control, exercise, supplement [500 mg vitamin C tablet, dailly] and combined [500 mg vitamin C, daily plus exercise] groups. Aerobic exercise was consisted of exercise movements at 50% to 70% maximal heart rate and 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected before and 48 hour after the last intervention. Serum transaminases activities were measured by enzymatic colorimetric method

Results: 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, vitamin C and the combined intervention were associated with a significant reduction in Alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and Aspartate aminotransferase [AST] activities [P<0.05] whereas there was no effect on the Alkaline phosphatase activity. All these interventions were associated with significantly greater reduction in the ALT and AST activities ratio in comparision with control group. Combined intervention induced more reduction on percent of variables changes compared with other interventions [P<0.05]

Conclusion: It seems selected aerobic exercise and vitamin C intake may induce their protective effect in obese girls via improvement in liver function

[Effect of swimming training and arbutin supplement on cardiac antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress in diabetic rats]

Background and Objective: Oxidative stress plays a major role in the structural and functional changes of the myocardium due to diabetes. This study was done to determine the effect of swimming training and arbutin supplement on cardiac antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress in diabetic rats

Methods: In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 6 groups including control, diabetes, Arbutin, diabetes+Arbutin, diabetes+exercise and diabetes+ exercise + Arbutin [combined]. Diabetes induced using alloxan [90 mg/kg/bw, intraperitoneally]. Arbutin [50 mg/kg/bw, ip] was administered for 5 days a week. The exercise consisted of swimming training at 5 min to 36 min per day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Renal Malondialdehyde, catalase level and superoxide dismutase [SOD] activity were evaluated in animals

Results: Diabetes significantly increased cardiac Malondialdehyde level and decreased cardiac SOD activity and catalase level [P<0.05]. Six weeks of supplementation with Arbutin, swimming training and combined intervention significantly increased catalas level and superoxide dismutase activity compared to the diabetes group[P<0.05]. Malondialdehyde level significantly reduced in combined and exercise groups in comparison with diabetic group [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Regular training [swimming] and Antioxidant supplement [Arbutin] protect the cardiac tissue against diabetes-induced oxidative stress through their antioxidants capacity and the combination of the two interventions have synergic effect

[Neuroprotective effect of aerobic training against lead induced oxidative stress in rat cerebellum]

Oxidative damage associated with the presence of Lead in the brain has been proposed as one possible molecular mechanism involved in Lead toxicity. Aerobic exercise is known to protect the brain through a cascade of molecular and cellular processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 week aerobic training on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and malondialdehyde [MDA] levels in rat's cerebellum exposed to Lead acetate. In this experimental study, 40 Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: sedentary base, sham [30 mg/kg of ethyloleate], Lead and exercise+Lead [20 mg/kg Lead acetate, intraperitoneally]. The exercise program consisted of progressive running training on the treadmill for 15 to 22 m/min, 25 to 64 min/day, and 5 days/week for 8 weeks. BDNF and MDA levels were measured by ELISA and TBARS methods, respectively. Chronic Lead acetate administration enhanced significantly [P<0.05] cerebellar MDA levels in rats compare to base and sham groups but had no effect on BDNF levels. Cerebellar MDA significantly was reduced and BDNF non significantly was increased in Lead acetate+ training group. Regular aerobic exercise with moderate intense may exert role neuroprotective against Lead-induced cerebellar injury by down-regulating oxidative stress and promotes brain health through increases in BDNF

[Community based participatory research, a model for health promotion]

Current traditional research methods for solving social problems were challenged due to limited participation of community. The health companion project was carried out with the aim of determining effective model of community participation for solving health problems in Boyerahmad and Dena township. This study is a community based participatory research performed in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province 2005-2009.The study population was the entire rural and urban households of Boyerahmad and Dena county. The strategic committee of project including academic researchers, managers of health and health related sectors was formed and this committee selected six regions for research activities. In each region local directing group; [health companion] was established with participation of stakeholders: academic researchers, local leaders, health providers and public representatives to guide all aspects of project. The members of the group empowered and enabled by attending training workshops for need assessment, priority setting, research methodology that through these activities the health problem priorities of the regions were recognized, the research area determined and intervention programs were designed and implemented according to these research area. The most important achievement of this project is the methods of activities to reaching goals. Implementation of six participatory interventional proposal for solving health problems and needs are the other achievement. The frequency and means of health problems and their risk factors significantly reduced after the completion of intervention program in each region. Establishing and activities of health companion groups followed model of Planned Approach to Community Health [PATCH] that help community to form health promotion team, collecting and organizing of data, choosing health priorities, developing a comprehensive intervention plan and evaluation

[ comparison of acute aerobic and resistance training method on plasma fibrinogen concentration in young women]

Fibrinogen, an inflammatory marker as well as a fundamental part of the coagulation cascade, is suggested to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and complications of atherothrombotic diseases. This study was carried out to assess the comparison of acute aerobic and resistance training method on plasma fibrinogen concentration in young women. This semi-experimental study was done on twenty trained volunteer women students, which was selected objectively, and availability. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of aerobic [n=10] and resistance training [n=10]. Aerobic group performed exhaustive workout program on treadmill intensity 65 to75% of Vo2max on treadmill. The resistance group completed three sets of 5-7 repetitions of six exercises at an intensity corresponding to 80% of 1RM. Following 12 to 14 hours of nightly fasting, venous blood samples [5 cc] were collected pre, immediately after exercise and after 60 min of recovery and analyzed for fibrinogen content. Participants were matched according to anthropometric measurements, age, fat percentage and Vo2max. Data tested by using independent t, repeated measures analysis of variance and post-hoc test least significant difference [LSD] [P

[Effects of community based educational prevention program of drug abuse in reduction of high risk behavior]

Overcoming social problems requires a participatory approach. This study was performed in order to determine the effect of community based educational prevention program of drug abuse in reduction of high risk behavior. This study was a community based participatory research. According to planned approach to community health model, "the health companion group" was established with participation of public representatives of villages, researchers, and managers of health sectors. Need assessment and priority setting of health problems was done. Drug abuse was selected as the topmost priority of health problems. By interviewing 10 year olds and older members of households, the questionnaires were completed. By conducting workshops, distributing educational pamphlets and face to face training for six months, the educational program was carried out. After this period, the study population was interviewed again. Data was analyzed by SPSS software, X2, and T tests. The mean score of drug abuse related high risk behavior was 26.8 +/- 2.05 before educational program and 25.2 +/- 2.3 after the program. The mean score of psychological health was 26.2 +/- 5.8 before educational program and 26.4 +/- 5.7 after the program. The rate of negative drug abusing related behavior decreased and positive behavior increased after the educational program. The community based participatory research with participation of the public can be a proper pattern to prevent drug abuse and related high risk behaviors and as a result reduce costs and complications of this problem

Survey of clinically euthyroid goiter in Southern Iran

Thyroid scans,[131] I uptake and serum T4 measurements were performed in 1226 linically euthyroid patients in an area with moderate iodine deficiency. Diffuse thyromegaly [DT] was found in 38% by scan, solitary cold nodule in 29.5%, and multinodular goiter [MNG] in 45%. The high incidence of cold nodule may be due to cases of MNG with a single large nodule that were entered in this category. The mean patient age in the cold nodules and MNG group was significantly higher than in normals and those with DT.Two and 24 hours I uptake and serum thyroxine were significantly higher than normal in patients with DT and MNG but not in those with cold nodule. Thyroid surgery was undertaken in 157 of these patients in whom malignancy was found in 27%.These were more common in males and between the ages of 30 and 40 The incidence of malignancy in cold nodule and MNG was about the same and was 30% and 26% respectively in the patients who underwent surgery and 8.8% and 8.9% in the patients as a whole. Follicular carcinoma comprised 37%, papillary carcinoma 35%,and 27% were of mixed type.The high incidence of follicular carcinoma is probably related to iodine deficiency. Goiter is relatively frequent in Southern Iran [1]. Although the majority of patients are euthyroid, hyperthyroidism is not common. Patients are referred to this medical center mostly because of thyroid enlargement, either diffuse or nodular. The aims of the present survey are: 1. To determine the relative frequency of the various forms of goiter and their correlation witn thyroid surgical pathology and in particular, the incidence of cancer. 2. To evaluate the use of thyroid scan and routine thyroid function tests in the understanding of the etiology of the various causes of goiter in an area in which moderate iodine deficiency exists [1]