[Executive function and working memory in attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder and healthy children]

Attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] is a neurodevelopment abnormality. Inattentive behavior is considered a core and pervasive feature of ADHD. This study was done to compare the executive function and working memory in attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder and healthy children. This case - control study was done on 50 children with ADHD as cases and 40 healthy children as controls. The disorder was diagnosed by applying Kanerz teacher test and confirmed by a psychiatrist. Stroop test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST], Continuous Performance Test [CPT] and n-back test were used to assess the executive function and working memory. There was a significant difference between case and control groups in regard to executive function and working memory [P<0.05]. Error omission was 16.98 +/- 8.157 and 7.3 +/- 3.824 in cases and controls, respectively [P<0.05]. Attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder reduces executive function and working memory in children

[Verbal fluency and working memory deficit in first-degree relatives of autistic children]

Autism spectrum disorder is a genetic-based cognitive and neurobehavioral disorder characterized by impairment in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and repetitive motor behavior. This study was done to evaluate the verbal fluency and working memory deficit in first-degree relatives of autistic children. In this case - control study, 49 first-degree relatives of autistic children from 33 families [32 mothers, 10 fathers, 6 sisters, and 1 brother] supported by Isfahan autism association were selected and compared with 51 first-degree relatives of typical children [23 mothers, 16 fathers, 7 sisters, and 5 brothers] of 27 families during 2010. The assessing tasks were phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tests to assess verbal fluency and forward and backward digiti span tests to assess low load and high load working memory. Data were analyzed using SPSS-19 and independent t-test and paired t-test. Autistic relatives showed significant poor performance in phonemic [11.46 +/- 3.3 V.S. 14.08 +/- 3.8], semantic verbal fluency [16.83 +/- 3.3 V.S. 19.23 +/- 3.9], forward digiti span [5.22 +/- 0.6 V.S. 5.55 +/- 0.9] and backward digiti span [3.65 +/- 0.98 V.S. 4.14 +/- 0.8] [P<0.05] compared to healthy children of first-degree relatives. This study showed that parents and siblings of autistic children have a lower performance in phonemic and semantic, low and high load verbal fluency, which might be transmitted genetically

[Protective effect of aqueous extract of rhuscoriaria l. fruit on catalase enzyme activity and histopathology of liver in alloxan-induced diabetic rats]

Complications in diabetes mellitus are associated with free radicals and oxidative stress. The human body copes with these complications through antioxidant defense mechanisms. This study aimes at assessing the effect of aqueous extract of sumac [Rhus coriaria L.] fruit on catalase [CAT] enzyme activity and the histopathological changes of liver in diabetic rats. In this study, 30 adult male Wistar rats, with average weight 180-230g were divided randomly into 5 groups of 6 rats. Physiological serum was injected to control rat group with the same volume of injection material. The second group of rats, became intraperitonally diabetic by injecting 120mg/kgbw dose of Alloxan monohydrate. The third, fourth and fifth groups of rats in addition to the same treatment of the second group, were fed aqueous extract of Rhus coriaria respectively, 50, 100 and 250mg/kgbw doses for 4 weeks. At the end of treatment, the role of extract on CAT enzyme activity was assessed. The serial sections of liver were prepared and stained with H and E for microscopic investigations. Data were analyzed using the test one way ANOVA and Tukey test. Significant level [p<0.05] was considered. CAT enzyme activity decreased in diabetic group significantly [p<0.05]. Moreover, CAT enzyme activity in group treated with extract [250mg/kgbw] was significantly different as compared to diabetic group [p<0.05]. Also those treated with extract, [250mg/kgbw] indicated a significant improve in side-effects of diabetes mellitus on liver tissue in diabetic rats. These results show that Sumac can be effective in decreasing diabetic complications and it can be used as an antioxidant and food supplement in diabetic patients

[Comparison of general health in adolescent boys and girls and its relationship with personality characteristics]

The importance of the mental processes and their role in people's health and disease have been demonstrated by several studies. Although diverse affect people's health, for the realization of their general health, and the role of personality factors that determine the individuals' rules of conduct, further studies are required. Exploration and comparison of general health in adolescent girls and boys and its relationship with personality characteristics. We selected for this cross-sectional study, 4342 male and female students in high schools and pre-university across 11 provinces of Iran through multistage cluster sampling. General Health Questionnaire [GHQ] and Five- factor Personality Traits[NEO] were filled. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistics parameters such as frequency, mean and standard deviation and for inferential analysis, Correlation Coefficient, Regression Analysis and multivariate analysis of variance [MANOVA] were used. According to the results, there was a significant difference between adolescent girls and boys in terms of general health. The results also showed that there was a significant positive correlation between neuroticism and general health and a significant negative correlation between extroversion, conscientiousness, and openness and general health [p<0/01]. Also it was shown that neuroticism, extroversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience can be considered respectively as the predictors for measuring the probability of adolescents' general health status. Considering the results, it seems that by examining the personality characteristics of adolescents we can measure the likelihood of changes in various aspects of their general health conditions. Also, as the results demonstrated, we can conclude that the general health of the girls are more at risk than the boys

Better mental component of quality of life in amputee

Assessment of quality of life can promote health services. The purpose of this study was evaluation of health related quality of life in lower limbs amputee veterans of Iran. In the present cross sectional study, we compared 38 lower limbs amputee veterans with 50 normal healthy subjects with SF36 questioner in face-to-face interview. Amputees had significantly lower grade than normal subject did in role physical [P < 0.01] and were better than normal subjects in vitality [P < 0.001] and mental health [P < 0.01]. As a whole, amputees have higher in mental summary component of quality of life [P < 0.05] and lower in physical component of quality of life [P < 0.01]. Diminishing the demand and improving social support of amputee veterans might be considered as high grade in mental summary component of their quality of life

[Comparing impulsivity and risky decision-making in obese and normal individuals]

Background: Impulsive and risky behaviors contain a wide range of undeveloped and pleasure seeking behaviors. One of the obese individuals' problems is their inability to refuse taking forbidden foods

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare impulsivity and risky decision making between two groups of obese and normal weight individuals

Methods: The participants in this analytical study were consisted of 100 obese individuals with a Body Mass Index [BMI] higher than 30 Kg/m[2] and 100 normal cases with BMI lower than 25 Kg/m[2]. Both groups were tested by two computerized tests including the impulsivity test [GO/NOGO] and the BART risky decision-making task which were used to test the participants' impulsive behaviors and the degree of their risky decision-making, a Public Health questionnaire to evaluate an individual's physical and psychological public health within the last month, and also a Daily Activity questionnaire to assess the participant's daily physical activities and sports. Variables were transferred to SPSS software and analyzed by independent t-test. This study was performed in Tehran in 2011

Findings: Individuals with higher impulsivity failed to condone the immediate pleasures and choose the long term healthy behaviors. The number of false reactions and the time average spent on tasks were longer among obese individuals compared with normal weight people indicating the obese individuals were more impulsive and made more risky decisions in choosing appropriate behaviors and lifestyle

Conclusion: According to the results of this research, it is beneficial to introduce an impulsivity treatment as a cognitive cure for obesity to professionals. In this regard, it is not wise to only focus on physical and nutrition aspects of obesity treatment

Protective effects of melatonin on lipid profile in fructose induced dyslipidemia

Metabolic dyslipidemia and elevated oxidative stress are very common in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin, on the plasma lipid profile and levels of MDA in tissues of fructose fed rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: 1. controls that received normal chow and tap water. 2. fructose group that received chow +10% fructose solution in drinking water. 3. The melatonin group that received chow +10% fructose solution+ daily injection of 10 mg/kg [BW] melatonin [ip]. After 8 weeks, plasma concentrations of triglycerides [TG], Total cholesterol [TC], low density lipoprotein [LDL], high density lipoprotein [HDL], and MDA in the tissues were measured and the Atherogenic index [AI] was calculated. The fructose fed rats showed significantly higher levels of TG, [p=0.01] compared to control rats, not in the melatonin group. HDL concentrations showed significant decrease in fructose rats, but not in the melatonin group. TC and LDL did not change significantly.Ai increase in fructose rats [p=0.00] and decrease in melatonin treated rats [p=0.01]. The fructose fed rats had higher MDA values compared with controls and melatonin administration decreased MDA values in heart, kidney and liver tissue. Melatonin intake can regulate metabolic dyslipidemia and decrease MDA levels in fructose fed rats

[Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of quercus persica jaub and spach fruit's hidroalcoholic extract in disc diffusion method]

As a result of indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of infectious diseases, microorganisms have developed resisrtance to many antibiotics and there is a need to develop antimicrobial drugs. One approach is use of local medicinal plants which represent a rich source of novel antimicrobial agents. Due to rapid increase of antibiotics resistance, fewer side effects of chemical drugs, antibacterial properties of oaks and other reasons, this study was carried out. In this study the antibacterial activity of hidroalcoholic extract of oak fruit was evaluated and compared with some in-use antibiotics. Milled oak fruit that their hull was separated was extracted with water+ethanol in Soxhlet's apparatus .The effect of extract in three concentration [25, 50, 75 mg/ml] were tested using agar diffusion method on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis RTCC 1898 and Escherichia coli O157: H7. Results showed that the effect of the extract on bacteria was concentration-dependent. In compared with antibiotics, the effect of 75 mg/ml concentration of extract on S. aureus was similar to GM, lesser than K and higher than TOB. Also this concentration of extract had a similar effect to K, higher than GM and lesser than TOB on S. epidermidis. This effect on E. coli was lesser than GM and K, but in compared with TOB was higher. results show that Quercus persica J. and Sp. possesses compounds with antibacterial properties

[ survey of administration of cherries ethanolic extract on the serum levels of lipids of diabetic rats]

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in the endocrine system resulting from a defect in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. It is the most common endocrine disorder and by the year 2010, it is estimated that more than 200 million people worldwide will have DM and 300 million will subsequently have the disease by 2025. Tart cherry [Rosaceae] are packed with powerful plant pigments called anthocyanins-which give cherries their dark red color-and it's these compounds one of richest antioxidant sources, lower blood sugar and insulin levels. Adding cherries to the diet also lower the animals' total cholesterol levels and triglycerides. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Cherries Ethanolic Extract on the Serum Levels of Lipids on Alloxan induced diabetic rats. In this study 36 Male Wistar rats, body weight of 150-200 gr were divided into 6 groups. Diabetes was induced by intra peritoneal injection of 120 mg/kg Alloxan. The duration of the cherries treatment was 30 days. Treatment with extracts of cherries resulted in a significant reduction in triglyceride, LDL, as well as increase in HDL level. Extracts from this plant useful in controlling blood lipids levels. Cherries appear to aid in diabetes control and in reducing the complications of disease

Macro anatomical investigations of the cranial cervical ganglion of the sheep

In the present study, eight specimens of sheep [>1 year] of both sexes were dissected to provide a comprehensive description of the weight, allocation and nerve branches of the cranial cervical ganglion. The cranial cervical ganglion was found beneath the mandibular salivary gland. It was located ventromedial to tympanic bulla and ventrally to atlantic fossa. In three out of eight animals it was at the dorsal region of the base of epiglottic cartilage, medial to paramastoid process and medial of the external carotid and occipital arteries. The cranial cervical ganglion was fusiform and reddish in colour. The weight, length, width and thickness [Mean +/- SE] of the cranial cervical ganglion in sheep were 0.12 +/- 0.01 g, 8.52 +/- 0.34 mm, 2.31 +/- 0.03 mm and 2.00 +/- 0.03 mm, respectively. It was found that the branches of the cranial cervical ganglion were internal carotid, external carotid and jugular nerves