ABSTRACT
Studying the practice of families on fats and oils consumption has an essential role in determination of health status in a community. Here, we investigated the effect of educational intervention on women's behavior about oils and fats consumption in Tadayon and Family health centers in Semnan, Iran. In this study, 250 and 255 families were selected by the coincidental cluster sampling, before and after intervention, respectively. Data were collected by questionnaire via of interview. The intervention consisted of speeches, installation mentioned in the leaflet, leaflet distribution and printing educational materials in the local newspaper. In the majority of families, the first preference of oil for preparation of non fried foods [56.4 vs. 36.8, before and after intervention, respectively] and fried foods [60.8 vs. 32.7, before and after intervention, respectively] was solid hydrogenated vegetable oil. After training, the use of conventional liquid oil and frying oil for the preparation of fried and non-fired foods was increased significantly [p<0.001]. After intervention the percent of subjects who removed the visible fat from red meats was increased from 52% to 62.5% [p<0.01]. In addition, after intervention the percent of people believed to be harmful usage of hydrogenated oil was increased [p<0.028]. The results of this study showed that educational interventions can increase knowledge and correct behaviors of families in the field of oils and fats consumption. Therefore, implementation and continuation of these programs should be regarded in the health system
ABSTRACT
The beneficial effects of physical activity and exercise on brain functions such as improvement in learning and memory are well documented. In a recent study, we have found that blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors by propranolol attenuates an improvement of learning and memory by exercise. However, the anatomical sites of propranolol actions are not known. The aim of this study was to determine the role of Basolateral amygdala [BLA] in the inhibitory effects of propranolol on the beneficial effects of exercise on learning and memory. In order to block the beta-adrenergic receptors, male mice were received the beta-antagonist propranolol [10 mg/kg], before each night of five consecutive nights of exercise. The BLA lesion was made by electrolytic lesion [2mA, 2 s]. Learning and memory were tested on the Morris water maze task using a two-trials-per-day for five consecutive days. A probe trial was performed two days after the last training day. Our results showed that propranolol reversed the exercise-induced improvement in learning and memory in rat. This effect was not blocked by the BLA lesion. However, lesion of the BLA alone blocked exercise-induced enhancement of learning and memory. These findings indicate beta-adrenergic receptors located outside the BLA may mediate the effects of exercise on learning and memory. Also, the BLA play an important role in the mediating the effects of physical activity on learning and memory