Effects of different exercise modalities on novel hepatic steatosis indices in overweight women with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fatty liver is a clinical and pathologic condition in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different exercise modalities on non-alcoholic fatty liver indices (fatty liver index [FLI], lipid accumulation product [LAP], hepatic steatosis index [HSI], and Framingham Steatosis Index [FSI]) in women with T2D. METHODS: Fifty-two women with T2D and a mean age of 55.07±5.92 yrs, body mass index (BMI) 28.94±4.09 kg/m² , and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 9.41±0.82% were randomized to a sprint interval training (SIT) (n=17), combined aerobic and resistance (A+R) training (n=17), or control group (n=18) for 10 weeks. Two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to find differences between groups and the effects of time and Time×Group interactions after 10 weeks on non-alcoholic fatty liver indices. After this, ANOVA models were constructed to determine the effects of group allocation and change in non-alcoholic fatty liver indices. RESULTS: There were significant time interactions for FLI (P<0.001), HSI (P<0.001), and LAP (P<0.001). Also, there were significant Time×Group interactions for fasting blood glucose (P=0.034), and HbA1c (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight that exercise training, independent of mode of training, is an effective strategy to improve some indices related to hepatic steatosis and blood glucose profiles in women with T2D.

Effect of endurance training intensity [low, moderate and high] on the expression of skeletal muscle ATGL protein and serum levels of insulin and glucose in male diabetic rats

Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of endurance training intensity [low, moderate and high] on the expression of skeletal muscle ATGL protein and serum levels of insulin and glucose in male diabetic rats

Material and Method: 40 streptozotocin induced diabetic male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups of eight, including low [DL , moderate [DM] and high intensity [DH] endurance training diabetic groups, diabetic control group [D], and healthy control group [Con]. Three sessions of endurance training with low intensity [DL[ equivalent to 5-8 m / min, moderate intensity [DM] equivalent to 17-14 m / min and high intensity [DH] equivalent to 25-22 m / min were performed every week for eight weeks. The relative expression of ATGL protein was measured with western blot technique. Serum insulin and glucose levels were measured by ELISA method. To determine the difference between the groups we used one way ANOVA test

Result: The results showed a significant difference in the expression of ATGL between the control and training groups [with low, moderate and high intensity][p=0.0002]. This difference was significant between DH and D [p=0.0049], DH and DL [p = 0.0053] and also between DH and DM [P = 0.0136] groups. Serum glucose levels were also significantly different between the DH group with the groups D [p = 0.002] and DL [p = 0.039], also, the DM group with groups D [p = 0.0018] and DL [p = 0.0165]. There was a significant difference in the amount of insulin in the DH group compared to the groups DL [p = 0.011], D [p = 0.0002], and the DM group with D [p = 0.014]

Conclusion: Moderate and high intensity endurance training can to some extent compensate for diabetes-induced reduction in the expression of ATGL protein and cause reduction of serum insulin and glucose levels in diabetic rats. It seems higher intensity of endurance training can lead to greater increase in expression of ATGL in diabetic rats

Evaluation of factors affecting size and size distribution of chitosan-electrosprayed nanoparticles

Background: Size and size distribution of polymeric nanoparticles have important effect on their properties for pharmaceutical application. In this study, Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by electrospray method [electrohydrodynamic atomization] and parameters that simultaneously affect size and/or size distribution of chitosan nanoparticles were optimized

Methods: Effect of formulation/processing three independent formulation/processing parameters, namely concentration, flow rate and applied voltage was investigated on particle size and size distribution of generated nanoparticles using a Box-Behnken experimental design

Results: All the studied factors showed important effects on average size and size dis-tribution of nanoparticles. A decrease in size and size distribution was obtainable with decreasing flow rate and concentration and increasing applied voltage. Eventually, a sample with minimum size and polydispersity was obtained with polymer concentration, flow rate and applied voltage values of 0.5 %w/v, 0.05 ml/hr and 15 kV, respectively. The experimentally prepared nanoparticles, expected having lowest size and size distribution values had a size of 105 nm, size distribution of 36 and Zeta potential of 59.3 mV

Conclusion: Results showed that optimum condition for production of chitosan nano-particles with the minimum size and narrow size distribution was a minimum value for flow rate and highest value for applied voltage along with an optimum chitosan concentration

effect of resistance training on levels of interlukine-6 and high-sensitivity C - reactive protein in older-aged women

Introduction: Aging is associated with elevated levels of some proinflammatory factors and exercise is a non-invasive intervention to improve immune function among older adults .The aim of the study was to compare resistance training effects on interlukine-6 [IL-6] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] levels in older-aged women

Methods: The study was quasi-experimental and forty healthy females were selected and randomly assigned to one of four groups: strength after endurance training [endurance + strength [E + S], n = 9], strength prior to endurance training [strength + endurance [S + E], n = 10], interval resistance-endurance training [Int, n = 12], and control [n = 9] groups. The training program was performed for eight weeks, three times per week. Human TNF-alpha and IL-6 sandwich ELISA Kit were used. Within-group differences were analyzed using a paired samples t-test and between-group differences were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance

Results: The intra-session order had not significantly influence on the adaptive response of waist-to-hip ratio [p = 0.55], IL-6 [p = 0.55] and hs-CRP [p = 0.55] throughout the study. However, significant differences were shown following combined training between the S + E, E + S and Int groups for Vo2 max [p = 0.029], body mass [p = 0.016] and BMI [p = 0.023] when comparing pre and posttests

Conclusion: This study confirmed that adaptations to a combination of endurance and resistance training appear to be independent of whether resistance training occurs prior to or following endurance training

Platelet dysfunction among patients with end stage renal diseases [review article]

Introduction and Aims: Platelet dysfunction is a major determinant of bleeding among patients with end stage renal disease [ESRD], The present article has summarized some of published articles about clinical and laboratory manifestations, pathogenesis and treatment of platelet dysfunction among these patients

Materials and Methods: Collecting current data, many studies have reviewed with key words of platelet dysfunction, bleeding and ESRD in a variety of sources such as PubMed, Scopus, and etc. Manuscripts published in English and Persian languages as full-text articles were included in our study

Results: The causes of platelet impairment among patients with ESRD are multifactorial and include anemia, accumulation of uremic toxins, von willebrand factor dysfunction and increase synthesis of prosthacyclin and nitric oxide which are platelet inhibitor

Although specific therapy is not required in patients without bleeding, however correction of platelet dysfunction is desirable among patients with active bleeding or patients who candidate for kidney or liver biopsy. Treatment options include correction of anemia, dialysis, administration of desmopressin which increase release of VIII factor and von willebrand factor multimers from endothelial cells, cryoprecipitate and conjugated estrogens

Conclusion: Excessive bleeding may occur among uremic patients in response to injury or invasive and noninvasive procedures and therefore appropriate treatment should be performed among these patients

Epidemiologic and demographic survey of celiac disease in khuzestan province

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease presents with a wide spectrum of symptoms

This study clarifies different aspects of celiac disease along with the most common patterns of celiac presentation in Khuzestan Province, Iran

METHODS: Patients' information was obtained by evaluation of their files from the archives of the Khuzestan Celiac Society and records at gastroenterologists' offices in this province

RESULTS: Overall, there were 103 [40 males, 63 females] patients included in this study. Patients' mean ages were 33 +/-11 years [males] and 31.6 +/- 11.7 years [females]. In terms of geographic distribution, 54.1% resided in the center of the province followed by 26.5% who were residents of the northern area. The rate of employment among men was 70.6% whereas it was 8.3% for women. In terms of education, 21.9% of men and 33.3% of women had academic educations. The rate of matrimony was 80.6% [n=29] for men, 65.4% [n=38] for women and 3.4% [n=2] who were divorced. Mean height was 164 +/- 14 cm in men and 157.5 +/- 10 cm in women. Mean BMI at the time of presentation was 22.7 in men and 22.6 in women. The most common gastrointestinal [GI] complaints in male patients were diarrhea [35%], reflux [20%], bloating [17.5%], abdominal pain [15%], vomiting [15%] and constipation [7.5%]. Female patients experienced diarrhea [49.2%], abdominal pain [31.7%], bloating [31.7%], vomiting [19%], constipation [9.5%] and reflux [7.9%]. The most common concomitant non-GI disorders among male patients were anemia [17.1%], thyroid disease [14.3%], and weight loss (14.3%); women experienced anemia [33.9%], thyroid disease [12.5%], and weight loss [7.1%]. Approximately half of the patients exhibited symptoms for more than five years prior to diagnosis and 90% were diagnosed by gastroenterologists. Of these, 43% had normal endoscopy results. The most common serologic markers were anti-TTG [69.9%], anti-EMA [27.7%]

CONCLUSION: Physicians, prior to attributing patients' symptoms to irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] should be aware that patients who present with long-term nonspecific symptoms might possibly have celiac disease. During endoscopy, the threshold for obtaining biopsies should be low

Synthesis and biological investigation of some novel sulfonamide and amide derivatives containing coumarin moieties

New sulfonamide and amide derivatives containing coumarin moieties; oxo-2H-chromen-sulfamoylphenylacetamides and oxo-2H-chromen-arylacetamides were synthesized starting from diverse 2-chloroacetamide derivatives and a wide range of coumarins. The structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by IR and NMR spectra and also analytical elemental analysis. In the next step, the above mentioned compounds were screened for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Their antimicrobial activity was assigned using the conventional agar dilution method and the antioxidant activity was assessed using two methods, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging method and ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay. Although the compounds showed no remarkable antimicrobial activities, most of them exhibited good antioxidant activities. Compounds 5b showed the most potent DPPH activity, whereas 8c was the most efficient compound in FRAP assay

Halotolerant ability and alpha-amylase activity of some saltwater fungal isolates

Four halotolerant fungal isolates originating from the saltwater Lake Urmia in Iran were selected during a screening program for salt resistance and alpha-amylase activity. The isolates were identified based on sequencing the ITS region and a part of the [beta]-tubulin gene, as Penicillium chrysogenum [isolate U1; CBS 132820], Fusarium incarnatum [isolate U2; CBS 132821], and Penicillium polonicum [isolate U3; CBS 132822, and isolate U4; CBS 132823]. The growth of these isolates was determined by measuring the colony diameter and mycelia dry weight in Sabouraud dextrose agar and yeast nitrogen base medium supplemented with NaCl, KCl, and LiCl.Isolate U4 showed a growth up in 15% NaCl and U1 was the only isolate that could grow in 20% KCl. None of the strains grew in a media containing LiCl. The salt supplemented medium did not increase the size of colony diameter in all isolates [p > 0.05]. The ability of the selected isolates for amylase production was quantitatively tested and showed that P. polonicum isolate U4 was the most potent producer of amylase with a yield of 260.9 U/L after 60 h, whereas P. polonicum isolate U3 was the lowest one with a production level of 97.9 U/L after 48 h. P. polonicum isolate U4 could be a suitable candidate for production of amylase on an industrial scale after optimization

[Effects of aerobic training on some inflammatory markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

Rheumatoid arthritis [RA] is more prevalent in women than men and its incidence is in all age group. Patient with RA significantly experience more disability and co-morbidities including cardiovascular diseases in compared with people without RA and this is due to reduced physical activities in the patients. The effect of aerobic training on patients with RA is still unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks aerobic training in patients with RA. Twenty three women [mean age 51.96 +/- 7.73 yr and mean weight 72.37 +/- 10 kg] with a diagnosis of RA for more than three years and without any known cardiovascular and brain symptoms were voluntarily enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into aerobic training [n=11] and control groups [n=12]. The patients in the aerobic group performed an aerobic training using a stationary bike [3 d/wk for 8 weeks]. All subjects in this group were administered the same medicine at the same dose. A fasting blood sample was collected prior to and after 8 weeks of aerobic training from the patients. Serum C-reactive protein [CRP], fibrinogen and rheumatoid factor [RF] were measured using standard methods. There was a significant difference in CRP, fibrinogen and body mass index before and after 8 weeks of aerobic training in the experimental group [P