[Effect of twelve weeks of aerobic training on serum levels of leptin, vaspin and some indicators of oxidative stress in obese middle-aged women]

This study was conducted to determine the effect of twelve weeks of aerobic training on serum levels of leptin, vaspin, total antioxidant capacity [TAC] and malondialdehyde [MDA] in obese middle-aged women. In this quasi-experimental study, 30 sedentary, middle-aged women [mean +/- SD age 48.30 +/- 3.02 yr, body mass index 30.89 +/- 3.23 kg/m2 and body fat 32.88 +/- 2.71%] were randomized into the experimental [n=15] and control [n=15] groups. The experimental group performed twelve weeks aerobic training [3 times per week at an intensity of 65-75% of maximum heart rate reserve]. Blood samples were collected 24h before and 48h after the training. Data was analyzed by Student's t-test [P<0.05]. Results showed a significant decrease in serum levels of leptin and MDA [P values 0.009 and 0.01 respectively] while TAC significantly increased [P=0.01] in the experimental group. Body fat percentage significantly decreased in the experimental group [0.0001], but serum vaspin levels were not significantly different between the two groups [P=0.93]. Regular aerobic training is associated with weight loss and reduced body fat in obese women. As leptin production occurs in adipose tissue, subsequent decrease in body fat percent, serum leptin levels also occurred. On the other hand, aerobic training can improve oxidation/anti-oxidation in the body by reducing MDA concentration and increasing TAC

Effects of mesenchymal stem cells with injectable scaffold on cardiac function in myocardial infarction in Rabbit

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells can transdifferentiate into Cardiomyocyte cells and improve heart function after transplantation. Since biomaterials can improve the cell retention in the site, cell survival and differentiation, heart tissue engineering is now being explored as an applied solution to support cell-based therapies and increase their efficacy for myocardial diseases. Chitosan in combination with Glycerol Phosphate [GP] can produce a thermo sensitive material that in body temperature can form a jellylike material. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of autologous undifferentiated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs] and injectable scaffold on cardiac function improvement in rabbits after inducing myocardial infarction. The Left Anterior Descending [LAD] coronary artery was ligated by No. 6-0 poly amide suture material, and autologous MSCs with injectable scaffold were injected into the margins of the infarcted zone at the time of surgery. At 4 weeks after transplantation, the cardiac function and structure was detected using echocardiography. There was no significant difference among the three groups [MI only, MI Scaffold, and MI+Scaffold+MSCs] in the Echocardio-graphic parameters including, heart rate [HR], Ejection Fraction [EF], Fractional Shortening [FS], Left Ventricular Diameter [LVD] and Left Ventricular Parietal Wall Diameter [LVPW]. A combination of autologous undifferentiated bone marrow MSCs and injectable scaffold made of Chitosan+ Glycerol Phosphate in echocardiographic evaluation did not have a positive influence on achieving functional improvement

Effect of 2 different jump types on vertical leg stiffness and performance parameters in healthy young women

To investigate effects of 2 different jump types on vertical leg stiffness and performance parameters in healthy young women. People usually use various types of high jumping. It seems any model may have different effects on biomechanical parameters of the human body. Present study determined the effect of 2 jump types on performance parameters and vertical leg stiffness as a mechanical response of body to perturbations which occur during jumping. Vertical leg stiffness and performance parameters [jump height, flight time, contact time and power] were calculated in 25 healthy female subjects, under 2 conditions of Squat Jump [SJ] and Counter Movement Jump [CMJ]. Vertical leg stiffness [P= 0.028] and jump height [P= 0.039] were significantly higher in CMJ than SJ. Jump type has not any significant effects on the flight time [P= 0.1], contact time [P= 0.7] and power [P= 0.3]. Counter movement jump increases the muscle force production, work output and GRF and may cause improvement in jump performance. Increased vertical leg stiffness improves performance as well as the risk of injury

Effects of sensory retraining on recovery of the hemiplegic upper limb in stroke patients [A Single-System Design]

Sensory deficits after stroke are common with prevalence rates variously reported to be 11% to 85%. In spite of the fact that Sensory deficits can decrease the quality of upper limb's movements and result in impairments in fine motor manipulation of objects, grasp and manipulative skills and finally decrease the patient's quality of life but commonly overlooked in stroke rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sensory retraining on upper limb recovery. In this study we studied 5 chronic stroke patients were participated using a single-system [A-B] design. During the baseline phase patient's function and motor impairment of upper limb were measured by Fugl-Meyer and Motoricity Index and their hand dexterity were measured by Box and Block test on three days intervals. When Patients reached to a stable pattern of changes, their treatment program began. In this phase they received sensory retraining intervention for 6 weeks. Based on sensory retraining principles and according to each patient's abilities, intervention began with detection and localization of constant and moving touch and followed by higher discriminatory tasks, such as graphestesia. Then results of evaluations of two phases were analyzed. Four patients showed significant improvements in upper limb function. The data showed significant improvements in motor impairments and hand dexterity in all of them. Regarding of significant recovery of upper limb function, motor impairment and hand dexterity of patients, sensory retraining can be considered as a practical method in rehabilitation of stroke patients. However further research with larger sample size is needed

[ study of the therapeutic effects of CpG oligonucleotides in Murine model of allergic asthma]

Augmentation of Th2 mediated responses such as elevation of serum IgE is the characteristic feature in atopy and asthma. CpG oligonucleotides [CpG ODN] have been used during the recent two decades as the potent immunomodulatory agents in allergic conditions. In this paper, we aim to report the anti-inflammatory effects of CpG ODN in murine model of asthma. In this study, BALB/c mice were sensitized with ch.a. allergen and then treated intranasally with CpG ODN. Following the challenge with allergen inhalation, mice were sacrificed and their splenocytes were cultured in the presence of antigen. After three days of culture, supernatants were examined for IFN-gamma levels by ELISA method, as an indication of Th1 response, and the results were compared with those in control mice without CpG therapy. The results indicate that the mice in the test group, which received CpG ODN, showed higher levels of systemic INF-gamma, and lower levels of serum IgE compared with either the antigen or CpG negative ODN-treated groups. Based on the results of this study, which shows higher INF-gamma levels in mice received CpG ODN, it can be concluded that CpG motifs have immune response modulation potential apparently through the deviation of Th2 into Th1 responses, which lead to a decrease in IgE antibody level. Accordingly, we suggest that these components can have therapeutic effects in the asthma caused by ch.a. allergen