[ effect of an eight-week aerobic exercise program on the homocysteine level and VO[2]max in young non-athlete men]

An elevated homocysteine level is a serious risk factor among the cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of an eight-week aerobic exercise on the homocysteine level and VO[2]max and also to determine the correlation between the homocysteine level and VO[2]max. In this quasi-experimental study, 28 male students from Iran University of Science and Technology, who passed the primary physical training course, were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups [age= 19.14 +/- 1.24, weight= 70.13 +/- 11.76 kg, height= 175.42 +/- 5.86 cm, body fat percentage= 19.11 +/- 5.98]. Blood samples were taken from each participant in both groups and the experimental group performed the Bruce test [VO[2]max] and an eight-week aerobic exercise program three times a week with the intensity near 60-75 percent of maximum heart rate. Results of this study showed no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the homocysteine level in posttest [P=0.75], but a significant difference was seen between the two groups in VO[2]max [P=0.0001]. However, no significant correlation was seen between the homocysteine level and VO[2]max [P=0.40, r=0.16]. Although an eight-week aerobic exercise program in young non-athlete men has no significant effect on the homocysteine level, it can increase the VO[2]max

Inhibition of murine systemic leishmaniasis by acetyl salicylic acid via nitric oxide immunomodulation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate antileishmanial effects of ASA via NO pathway in Leishmania major infected Balb/c mice. Moreover, toxicity and pathological consequences of ASA administration were investigated. Balb/c mice were infected with L. major and ASA was inoculated orally after lesion appearance for its ability to modulate NO and to modify Leishmania infection in host, in order to evaluate the effects of NO production on size and lesion macroscopy, delay of lesion formation and proliferation of amastigotes inside macrophages. Liver, spleen, and lymph nodes were also studied as target organs to detect amastigotes. In addition, plasma was investigated for NO induction using Griess microassay. ASA increased NO production in plasma of both na‹ve and Leishmania test groups at the ultimate of the experimental period. A decline was observed in proliferation of amastigotes inside macrophages of test group when compared with control one. ASA reduced lesion size, inhibited Leishmania visceralisation in spleen, lymph node, and decreased hepato/splenomegaly in ASA treated animals. Some antileishmanial effects of ASA by NO-modulation were indicated during systemic leishmaniasis in mice. Despite slight effects on lesion size, ASA decreased parasite visceralization in target organs and declined their proliferation inside macrophages. Therefore, ASA may be indicated to inhibit systemic leishmaniasis via NO pathway in mice model

[Comparing the radiographic grading scales, knee pain, signs, movement dysfunctions and the quality of life related to osteoarthritis in ex-elite track and field athletes and non-athletes]

The purpose of this study was to compare the radiographic grading scales osteoarthritis, knee pain, signs and movement dysfunctions related to osteoarthritis in daily, sport and recreational activities and also the quality of life between ex-elite track and field athletes and the non-athletes. Thirty ex-elite male track and field athletes were purposefully selected and divided into two equal groups [n=15]. The clinical and radiological methods [Kellgren-Lawrence] and a global and domestic questionnaire of the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score [KOOS] were used to diagnose the disease. Results showed a significant lower mean for movement dysfunctions in sport and recreational activities between athletes and non-athletes [P=0.02]. Despite a 30% difference in the mean radiographic grading for osteoarthritis in athletes compared to the non-athletes, the difference was not statistically significant [P=0.90]. Moreover, the lower mean values for knee pain, signs, movement dysfunctions in daily activities and the quality of life in athletes were 10% [P=0.27], 10% [P=0.09], 12% [P=0.13] and 4% [P=0.90], respectively compared to non-athletes, however, the difference was not statistically significant. Participating in track and field competitions at the professional level may improve the movement function of ex-elite athletes

[Efficacy evaluation of Portulaca oleracea L. in control of the opium withdrawal symptoms]

Drug's dependence is a common and debilitating disorder. These patients interested to herbal therapy. Lack of valid documents about that is an important problem. Portulaca oleracea L. grows almost all points of distribution and areas of Khuzestan in southern Iran as eating vegetables. This plant is an anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, anti-fever, muscle relaxant. Objective this study was evaluated efficacy of Portulaca oleracea L. in comparison with methadone for symptoms' of morphine withdrawal. Aqueous extracts and methadone given to 36 patients with morphine dependency. CINA scales were used by days 0, 2, 5, 7 and 10 for evaluation. In two groups withdrawal symptoms controlled good and behavior treatment in two groups was similar. The aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea L. can be as effective in controlling withdrawal symptoms

Screening of the anticonvulsant activity of some plants from Fabaceae family in experimental seizure models in mice

Fabaceae is the third largest family of flowering plants. Lack of essential oils in the plants of this family can be an advantage in search for safe and effective medicines. In this study the anticonvulsant effect of the leaves of Albizzia julibrissin, Acacia juliflora, Acacia nubica and aerial parts of Astragalus obtusifolius was evaluated in pentylenetetrazole [PTZ] and maximal electroshock [MES] seizure tests. The hydroalcoholic extracts of the plants were obtained by percolation. Different doses of the extracts were injected to the mice intraperitoneally [i.p.] and occurrence of clonic seizures induced by PTZ [60 mg/kg, i.p.] or tonic seizures induced by MES [50 mA, 50Hz, 1sec] were monitored up to 30 min after administration. Acute toxicity of the extracts was also assessed. The safe and effective extract was then fractionated by dichloromethane and anticonvulsant activity of the fractions was determined. Finally, the constituents of the extract and the fractions were screened by thin layer chromatography. Among the extracts, only A. obtusifolius extract showed low toxicity and protective effect against clonic seizures with ED50 value of 3.97 g/kg. Fractionation of the extract led to increase in anticonvulsant activity and ED50 value of 2.86 g/kg was obtained for the aqueous fraction. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, anthrones and saponins in the aqueous fraction. The presence of anticonvulsant compounds in A. obtusifolius suggests further activity-guided fractionation and analytical studies to find out the potential of this plant as a source of anticonvulsant agent

[Trauma epidemiology and its consequences in victims referred to Kashan trauma center during 2007-8]

Trauma is the most common cause of mortality for people aged 1 through 44 years. Traffic accidents are the leading cause of severe injuries among young people in most countries. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of traffic accident injuries in victims referred to Kashan Trauma Center during 2007-8. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 1004 trauma cases referred to Kashan Shahid Beheshti Trauma Center during the year during 2007-8. Data including age, sex, type of trauma, and type of intra- and/or extra-thoracic injury were recorded and analyzed. Sixty-six per cent of the cases were male, and the most frequently observed trauma cases were between the ages 21 and 30, followed by 10 and 20. The frequency of trauma in urban and rural areas was 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. Motorcycle accidents are the most common traffic accidents followed by car accidents. Considering the large number of trauma cases secondary to the traffic accidents and lower levels of education in those cases, appropriate educational programs may be helpful to decrease the mortality rates and other undesirable consequences of accidents

[Study of sport trauma in men's sport leagues of Kashan during 2008-9]

Athletes participating in sport competitions are faced with the risk of trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of trauma injuries in men's sport leagues of Kashan during 2008-9. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all injuries during sport league competitions were recorded by attending the sport arenas during 2008-9. A total of 160 trauma cases were recorded during 146 events. The highest number of trauma was observed in handball and taekwondo competitions with 45 [25.6%] and 35 [21.9%] cases, respectively. Athletes involved in sport leagues require appropriate training and adequate protection through the use of protective devices to avoid injuries

Evaluation of methods using maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein for antenatal screening of pregnancies for open neural tube defects in east Azerbaijan province of Iran

Neural tube defects, resulting from failure of the neural tube to close during the fourth week of embryogenesis, are the most common severely disabling birth defects in most populations. We assayed alpha fetoprotein [AFP] in serum samples of pregnant women during 15 to 20 weeks of gestation using immuno-enzymatic method [Eliza] in east Azerbaijan/Iran. The results obtained from the first 100 samples were used to calculate the median levels of maternal serum AFP in our ethnic population and the resulted Multiple of Median [MOM] were employed in Prisca software to obtain the likelihood ratio for each pregnancy. Among the 300 pregnancies which were screened for Neural Tube Defects [NTDs], 9 were detected as screen positives. The following targeted ultrasonography revealed fetuses affected by open neural defects in two pregnancies, polyhydraminous with no NTDs in two others and bilateral cleft lip in the one. The screening results were confirmed by clinical examination of the aborted fetuses or newborns. The outcome of the last pregnancy showed bilateral cleft lip + cleft palate and congenital pyloric stenosis at birth. The newborns resulted from two other screen positive pregnancies were normal. No information was obtained from the two remaining pregnancies after the ultra-sound scanning. The median weight of pregnant mothers in sample population was 63.34 +/- 10/66, in screen positive patients 61/11 +/- 11.92 and in screen negative patients 63.30 +/- 10.63. The results obtained from antenatal maternal serum screening in the present study compares favorably with the results from reference centers using similar screening strategies. The method employed in this research is reliable and can be readily applied for screening of a large population of pregnant women for open NTDs

Studies of the effects of molecular weight on the gamma irradiation degradation of poly [Methylmetacrylate] doped with p-N, N-dioxaloylaminobenze -N',N'-dioxaloylsulphonyloxamide and its cobalt [II] complex

Protection of some poly [methylmethacrylate] samples against gamma rays had been investigated in the absence and presence of p N,N-dioxaloylamjnobenzene-N', N' dioxaloylbenzenesul-phony-loxamide and its cobalt [II] complex. The pure PMMA [without additives], PMMA-ligand and PMMA-cobalt [II] complex composite samples were irradiated with gamma rays for different exposure doses [5, 15, 25, 35, 50, 75 and 100 kGy]. Viscosity average molecular weight [Mv-values] and thin layer chromatographic measurements were carded out after each irradiation dose. The maximum protection against gamma ray was found when 1% of the organic ligand or its cobalt [II] complex is used in the polymer matrix

Progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate retard the development of amygdala kidling in male rats

The effect of progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA] on the development and expression of amygdala kindled seizures was studied in adult male rats. Rats were treated with either daily intraperitoneal progesterone[60 mg/kg] or weekly intramuscular MPA [25 mg/kg] during the development of kindling. Progesterone retarded both focal and generalization stages of kindling at the 10 min. injection-stimulation interval, while MPA only retarded the generalization stage. However, neither of the drugs had any effect on afterdischarge and stage 5 seizure duration after full kindling. These results suggest that progesterone antiepileptogenic effect results from inhibition of the development of both focal seizures and kindled seizure generalization

Preparation and characterization of some phenol-Egyptian cotton fire wood resins

Optimum conditions have been determined for the synthesis of linear, soluble and easily mouldable condensation products from Egyptian cotton-fire wood [ECFW] using phenol as the condensation agent. Thin layer chromatographic techniques was used for characterizing the products during the kinetic studies. The data obtained on TLC [Rf- values] confirm the results of viscosity and drop-falling temperature measurements. Infrared spectroscopic studies on the phenolic resins prepared by condensation of phenol with furfural, xylose, glucose, holocellulose, resistant cellulose, pure soda lignin and [ECFW] powder were carried out. The IR spectrum of soda lignin phenol resin proves the presence of aliphatic methyl, methylene, methine and strong bonded OH groups. Drastic changes in band position and intensity are observed in the IR spectra of pure soda lignin and the respective phenolic resins, indicating the degradation processes could take place during the condensation reactions

Tetraoxalyl derivatives of some diamines suggested as secondary standards in permanganometric titrations

The reaction between urea, thiourea and p-phenylene diamine with aliphatic diprotic acids depends upon the molar ratio of the reactants and the experimental conditions employed. At a 1: 4 molar ratio [diamine: oxalic acid] under reflux condition, the tetrafunctional compounds are obtained. IR, UV and 1HNMR-spectroscopic studies were carried out for structure elucidation and characterization. Thermogravimetric analysis of the investigated compounds showed that 4 molecules of water of crystallization per each molecule of ligand were present. These ligands fulfill the requirements of ideal secondary standards for potassium permanganate. Alternatively, standardized potassium permanganate solutions are used for the volumetric microdetermination of as low as 0.1 mg of each of these ligands

Synthesis and characterization of iron complexes of tetraoxalyl para-phenylene diamine

A large number of inorganic compounds are known to contain metal ions of the same element in two different formal oxidation states, but few organometallic compounds of this type have been reported. Cowan et al. reported biferrocene Fe [II] Fe [III] picrate and Vertes and Suba examined the mixed iron states in formamide. The reaction between para phenylene diamine and aliphatic dibasic acids depends upon the molar ratio of the reactants and the experimental conditions employed. At a 1 : 4 molar ratio [para phenylene diamine: oxalic acid] under reflux condition, the tetrafunctional compounds is obtained. More recently tetrabasic [tetrasuccinyl urea] and tetraoxalyl urea were prepared]. The present work is mainly concerned with the reaction of para phenylene diamine with oxalic acid. The aim is to produce tetrafunctional product [tetraoxalyl para phenylene diamine][To p-phD] and to investigate the formation of Iron [II] and [III] complexes by Mossbauer and Infra-red spectroscopy