[ effect of aerobic training and omega-3 consumption on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus of male rats with homocysteine induced Alzheimer's disease]

Background and Aim: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] is widely expressed in the brain, but it is reduced significantly in the brain of the patients with Alzheimer's disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of low intensity aerobic training and Omega-3 consumption on hippocampal BDNF levels in male rat with homocysteine induced Alzheimer's disease

Material and Methods: 60 Wistar male rats [12 weeks old and mean weight of 222.31 +/- 11.91 g] were divided into six groups, including: Alzheimer's rat with training, Alzheimer's rat with training+Omega-3 intake, Alzheimer's rat + supplement of Omega 3, healthy control rat, Alzheimer's control rat and sham. Alzheimer's disease was induced by injection of homocysteine [0.6M] into the rat brain ventricle. Training with a speed of 20 meters per minute [intensity of 50-55% VO2max] was done for 5 days a week on the treadmill. Each session lasted 60 minutes. The supplement groups received, 800 mg per kg of Omega-3/day for 8 weeks. We used one-way analysis of variance for data analysis. P <0.05 considered significan

Results: The results of this study showed that, 8 weeks of aerobic training and intake of omega-3, had no significant effect on the BDNF level in the hippocampus of Alzheimer induced rats [P=0.06]

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that aerobic training and use of omega-3 in the short-term cannot increase BDNF levels in the hippocampus of Alzheimer induced rats. But it is possible that aerobic training with higher intensity along with use of higher amounts of Omega-3 for longer periods may affect the BDNF level in the hippocampus

[Importance of epigenetic changes in the thyroid cancer incidence and their therapeutic applications]

Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine malignancy worldwide, originates from follicular epithelial cells. It is classified as a well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma [WDTC] -follicular [FTC] and papillary types [PTC]-, poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas [PDTC], anaplastic thyroid carcinoma [ATC], and parafollicular calcitoninproducing cells include medullary thyroid carcinoma [MTC]. "Epigenetic" refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without any alteration in the pattern of the primary DNA sequence. Growing evidence shows that epigenetic changes play important roles in thyroid carcinomas and, together with genetic changes, lead to tumorigenesis. Epigenetic silencing of various genes specific for thyroid differentiation have been detected in thyroid tumors. These changes in tumor-promoting and tumorsuppressor genes also contribute to the dysregulation of thyrocyte growth and other aspects of tumorigenesis. However, at present, no promising treatment is available for advanced thyroid cancer, which is unresponsive to radioiodine. Biologically targeted therapies for advanced thyroid carcinomas have been proposed based on the recognition of main oncogenic mutations. In this review we discuss the most frequent epigenetic variations in different types of thyroid cancer, epigenetic strategies for treating this carcinoma, and experimental data and clinical trials, particularly those that use deacetylase inhibitors and demethylating agents

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-benzamidobenzoic acid hydrazide derivatives as novel soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors

Inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolase [sEH] represent one of the novel pharmaceutical approaches for treating hypertension, vascular inflammation, pain and other cardiovascular related diseases. Most of the potent sEH inhibitors reported in literature often suffer from poor solubility and bioavailability. Toward improving pharmacokinetic profile beside favorable potency, two series of 4-benzamidobenzoic acid hydrazide derivatives with hydrazide group as a novel secondary pharmacophore against sEH enzyme were developed. The designed compounds were synthesized in acceptable yield and their in vitro assay was determined. Most of the synthesized compounds have appropriate physical properties and exhibited considerable in-vitro sEH inhibitory activity in comparison with 12-[3-Adamantan-1-yl-ureido]-dodecanoicacid [AUDA], a potent urea-based sEH inhibitor. 4-[2-[4-[4-chlorobenzamido] benzoyl]hydrazinyl]-4-oxobutanoic acid 6c was found to be the most potent inhibitor with inhibitory activity of 72% targeting sEH enzyme

[Evaluation of the effect of a swimming training program on levels of lung hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha [HIF-1 alpha] in pups of mother rats exposed to cadmium]

Cadmium is one of the most important biological contaminants that its intake in pregnancy causes disease and malformations in the mother and baby. This study was done with the aim of evaluating the effect of maternal regular swimming training and oral cadmium intake during pregnancy on the levels of lung hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha [HIF-1 alpha] in pups. In this study, 32 female wistar rats weighting 200 +/- 20g, after 2 weeks of familiarity with the new environment and pregnancy were divided into four groups of 8, including: 1- cadmium, 2- swimming, 3- cadmium-swimming, and 4- control. Swimming training started from the first day of pregnancy and continued once a day [5 days per week] until delivery day. Intake dose of cadmium was 400mg/l in drinking water. HIF-1alpha concentration of Lung was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] method. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Holm-Sidak tests at significance level of p<0.05. The mean weight of pups in cadmium group showed a significant decrease [p<0.001] compared to the control group. Also, the pups' lung HIF-1 alpha levels significantly [p<0.001] increased in the swimming group and significantly [p<0.001] reduced in cadmium group compared to control group. These results indicated the effect of swimming training on the increase of lung HIF-1 alpha levels in pups that their mothers were swimming regularly in pregnancy. Accordingly, it seems submaximal swimming training in pregnancy can modify its negative effects on the fetal lungs through compensating of cadmium-induced decrease in HIF-1 alpha

[Association between C-reactive protein and high-density lipoprotein of cholesterol among adults in Tehran city]

In the present research, the association between C-reactive protein [CRP] and high-density lipoprotein of cholesterol [HDL-C] is studied among healthy adults in Tehran city. It is performed as a cross-sectional study using data of adults with age 18 and more enrolled in the first phase of the "Evaluation of novel risk factors of NCD" project in the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences [Tehran, Iran] in 2001. Analyses were done by logistic regression models using crude and adjusted odds ratio [OR] to demonstrate the associations between CRP and HDL-C regarding their age, gender, body mass index and smoking status as underlying variables. To get final reduced logistic model we used backward elimination strategy with likelihood ratio test. Based on the findings of analysis on data of 126 men and 208 women, it was reported a significant association between blood concentration of CRP and HDL-C [P<0.001]. Logistic regression analysis revealed that increasing the concentration of CRP to 0.2 mg/l and more in serum, increased the likelihood of decreasing the serum concentration of HDL-C to 40 and 50 mg/dl and less about two folds in men and women respectively [adjusted OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.49-3.41]. In apparently healthy adults from Tehran city, independent of age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and smoking, serum concentrations of CRP and HDL-C are reversely associated while both of them are considered as independent factors related with cardiovascular disorders and complications

Comparing effects of aerobics, pilates exercises and low calorie diet on leptin levels and lipid profiles in sedentary women

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobics, pilates exercises and low calorie diet on leptin levels and some lipid profiles and anthropometric factors in sedentary women. Forty six women [age 36.41 +/- 3.47] were recruited and divided into four groups: aerobic exercise group [EX], Pilates exercise group [Pilates], low calorie diet [LCD] and control group [C]. Sampling was random. Exercise trials consisted of 45 min of aerobics or Pilates exercise at 60-75% of maximum heart rate for 16 weeks. All subjects were asked to complete a medical examination as well as a medical questionnaire to ensure that they were not taking any medication and were free of any diseases. Waist and hip circumferences, leptin and lipid profiles [TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C] were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. The probability levels of significance were based on the two paired sample t-test and one way ANOVA. Significant was assigned at P< 0.05 for all analyses. Serum leptin concentrations [ng/dl] showed significant decrease [P< 0.05] in LCD [0.15 +/- 0.09], EX [0.37 +/- 0.06], Pilates [0.69 +/- 0.13] after 16 wk follow-up, and were different among experimental groups [P< 0.05], though in control group did not different significantly [P> 0.05]. Significant reductions [P< 0.05] were found in waist-hip ratio [WHR] within LCD [0.733 +/- 0.07], EX [0.805 +/- 0.06], Pilates [0.768 +/- 0.054], and between experimental groups [P< 0.05]. The blood profiles and lipoproteins didn't change significantly in LCD, EX, Pilates and C groups [P> 0.05]. The ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C increased significantly [P< 0.05] in LCD [0.815 +/- 0.104], EX [0.948 +/- 0.068], Pilates [0.753 +/- 0.139] and between experimental groups [P< 0.05]. In conclusion, serum leptin concentrations and waist-hip ratio [WHR] showed significant changes within and between exercise and diet groups. A combination of diet and exercise may be closely related to significant decreases in lipid profiles

[ effects of one session aerobic activity and sauna on serum and urinary sodium and potassium concentration in athletes]

Water and electrolyte balance are critical for the maintenance of general health. Exercise creates much variation in renal homodynamic and electrolytes excretion. Sauna is also an extreme hot environment placing an individual in heat stress. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of one session aerobic activity and sauna on serum and urinary sodium and potassium concentration in athletes. A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 15 football players of Shahid Beheshti University M.C [Age: 24.5 +/- 2.5 yr; Weight: 72 +/- 8 kg]. Blood samples were taken before and after aerobic activity and sauna, and 24 hours urine was also collected before and after exertion of independent variables. The data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation for statistical description and dependent t-test for inferential analysis. The results showed that one session physical activity significantly increased serum sodium and potassium [p