مجله فیض
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 5 (پیاپی 115، آذر و دی 1399)

Due to the antioxidant effects of saffron in improving diabetes, this study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of crocin on pituitary-adrenal axis and thyroid hormones in diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, which was performed at Payame Noor University, 28 male rats were divided into 4 groups: control, untreatment diabetic, 2 crocin (50, 100 mg/ml, 25 days intraperitoneal injection)-treated diabetic groups. The diabetic groups obtained with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Blood sampled from the heart of the rats 25 days after the start of the experimental. Then, pituitary-adrenal axis hormones (cortisol, aldosterone, adrenocorticotropin, and thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, and T4)) were evaluated. The results were analyzed by Kruskal Wallis and LSD tests.

Crocin at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/ml has led to a significant increase in cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenocorticotropin compared to the diabetic rats. Diabetes causes a significant decrease in the levels of thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, and T4). Prescribing crocin at concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/ml has significantly increased the level of thyroid hormones compared to the untreatment diabetic group (P<0.05). Comparing the two concentrations of crocin, the group treated with the concentration of 100 mg/ml has showed a significant increase in the studied indices compared to the group treated with 50 mg/ml of crocin. Also, crosin significantly reduced the level of glucose in diabetic rats.

Crocin can increase the level of pituitary-adrenal and thyroid hormones in diabetic male rats.

Sera are a multifaceted mixture of growth factors, proteins, and etc. which can influence oocyte maturation and fertilization. The aim of this survey is assessing the effect of different sera on in vitro maturation and fertilization in NMRI mice.

In this experimental study, maturation of oocytes was evaluated in α-MEM medium treated with 0 to 20 allogenic and autologous mice serums, Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) after 14-18h incubation period. Then MII oocytes were fertilized with capacitated sperms that percentages of 0 to 20 and investigated fertilization ratio.

In vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization level elevated significantly by adding serum to the culture medium (P<0.05). The most prominent maturation rate was observed in denuded oocytes (DOs) treated with FBS 10% (80%) and cumulus oocyte complex (COCs) treated with BSA 5% (98%) (P<0.001). In addition, the highest fertilization rate was observed in DOs treated with BSA 5% and COCs treated with allogenic serum 15% (77%, 75%), respectively (P<0.001).

The results of this study revealed that although BSA and FBS had better results than allogeneic and autologous sera, therefore, IVF findings in oocyte containing cumulus indicated high capacity of allogenic serum in this process. So, application of allogenic serum can be an appropriate replacement versus animal serum to reduce the challenges of infertility treatment modalities.

Physical activity has a positive effect on angiogenesis and inflammation indexes, but its effect on people who intake a high-fat diet is not clear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of 8 weeks of interval activity on serum levels of angiogenesis factors and inflammatory index predicting cardiovascular disease on high-fat diet rats.

In this experimental study, 30 male Wistar rats (6 weeks old) were randomly assigned in 3 groups; normal diet (n=10), high-fat diet (n=10), and high-fat diet-interval training. For the first and second groups, the training program was performed 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Before the first session and 48 hours after the last session of physical activity, blood samples were taken using the ELISA method to examine NO, VEGF, and CRP. the MANOVA test was used to analyze data

The results of this study showed that 8 weeks of interval training increased significantly (p<0.0001) NO and VEGF (P=0.0001) levels in the high-fat diet-interval training group compared to the control group and high-fat diet group. However, the CRP level of the high-fat diet-interval training group decreased significantly (P=0.0001) than the control group.

according to the findings of this study, 8 weeks of interval training increase some angiogenesis factors such as NO and VEGF, which results in the probable reduction of CRP as a risk factor of cardiovascular disease.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Studies have displayed that the dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays a crucial role in the incidence, progress, and metastasis of tumors. miRNAs have been considered as a biomarker as well as a therapeutic agent, thus gene therapy with miRNA is considered as one of the ways to treat cancer. miR-4516 has been reported to play a role in different diseases and malignancies. However, the expression level and biological function of miR-4516 in breast cancer remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the expression level and the effect of miR-4516 on the proliferation and migration in breast cancer.

Tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected from 40 patients with breast cancer. MiR-4516 levels in breast cancer cell lines and tumor tissue were measured by real-time PCR. Pre-mir-4516 was cloned in the pEGFPN1 vector. Then human breast cancer MCF7 cells were cultured and pre-miR-4516 vector and control vector were transfected into cells. After transfection, a miR-4516 level was verified by QPCR. Cell proliferation and migration were studied with MTT assay and scratch test respectively.

miR-4516 was down-regulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Low expression of miR-4516 was directly related to the high-grade tumor. miR-4516 suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation, but not migration in vitro.

miR-4516 may function as a tumor suppressor and inhibits the proliferation which may consequently serve as a therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Sperm associated antigens (SPAGs) play an important role in the incidence of various cancers including breast, lung, liver, and bladder. SPAGs are also important in sperm functions, such as motility. However, it seems that sperm cryopreservation as one of the assisted reproductive techniques (ART), can affect the expression of these genes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of freezing on the expression of human SPAG 5 and 9 in human spermatozoa.

In the present experimental study, twelve semen samples in terms of normozoospermic parameters were collected from individuals referred to the Royan Institute, and progressive motile sperms were isolated by density gradient centrifugation (DGC). Each sample was divided into two, non-frozen (control) and frozen groups. After rapid freezing and three-day storage in liquid nitrogen, samples were thawed in tap water and incubated for 2 hours of recovery-time in a CO2 incubator. RNA extraction in both groups was performed using TRIzol; and SPAG5 and 9 were evaluated by Real-time PCR technique.

Based on statistical analysis, the expression of SPAG5 decreased significantly in the frozen group compared to the control group (P≤0.05); In contrast, there was no significant difference in the expression of SPAG9 between the control and frozen groups.

Considering the cold shock in the future of cell, a significant reduction in SPAG5 expression in the frozen group may indicate probable influences in the derived fetus.

The general tendency of the community to use herbal medicines is due to prove the destructive effects of chemical drugs and environmental pollution. This study aimed to investigate the Anti-bacterial properties of P. gnaphalodes extract on some gram-positive and negative bacteria.

In this study, all of the organs of the P. gnaphalodes plant was dried in the shade in the summer of 2016 after collection. The Anti-bacterial effect of the plant was measured on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus to obtain the best extraction method. Next, 15 ml of Muller-Hinton-Agar medium was mixed with concentrations of 10 - 5.2 - 0.25 - 0.625 and 20 mg/ml of the extracts and 104 CFU /ml of the bacterium was inoculated and cultured after growing the colonies. In order to determine the MIC and MBC, the same volumes of 105 CFU/ ml were inoculated into Muller Hinton broth medium containing different concentrations of herbicide extracts. The culture medium was incubated for 24 hours at 37 ° C.

Concentration of 20 mg/ml had the most effect on inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus bacteria, which was eliminated for 90, 68, 75 and 90% bacteria, respectively. MIC and MBC of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus were obtained at 25, 50, 50, 70, 50, 80 and 30 and 50 mg/ml, respectively.

The results showed that the extract of P. gnaphalodes has anti-bacterial effects on some gram positive and negative bacteria.

Macroalgae are rich in diverse valuable compounds so they are known as the 21 century medicinal plants. In this study polar to nonpolar extracts of four macroalgae species, Sargassum boveanum, Fucus trinodis, Galaxaura rugos and Laurencia denderoidea were collected from the Persian Gulf coastlines, evaluated for their phenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Phenol and flavonoid contents of species were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteu and Aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant activities of extractions were analyzed by total antioxidant activity (TAC) and reducing power of Fe3+ respectively and also antibacterial activity of samples were analyzed by disc diffusion method against two gram positive and two gram negative bacteria.

F. trinodis showed the highest phenolic (1.38 gGA/100gDW.) and flavonoid (0.798 gQE/100gDW.) contents and G. rugosa showed the lowest phenolic (0.240 gGA/100gDW.) and flavonoid (0.094 gQE/100gDW.) contents. Chloroform extract of F. trinodis (2.98 ugASA/mg) and S. boveanum (2.48 nm) showed the maximum level of TAC and reducing power antioxidant activities, respectively. The samples with high content of phenolic and flavonoid contents showed the highest antioxidant activity too. All the three extracts of S. boveanum and F. trinodis showed the considerable antibacterial activity against all the four examined strains of bacteria especially negative gram bacteria.

The studied macroalgal species showed considerable phenolic content and bioactivities suggest that they can be suitable for medical and medicinal applications.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) and short-term solution-focused therapy (STSFT) on resilience and happiness in MS patients.

This study used a randomized clinical trial with pre-test, post-test, follow up, and the control group. The population under study consisted of all women with MS in Tabriz who were members of MS Society in Tabriz in 2019. In total, 30 women were selected by purposive sampling as the participants and randomly divided into three groups. The members of both experimental groups received their own treatment respectively in 8 and 7 sessions each lasting 1.5 hours.

The mean and standard deviation of resilience and happiness MBT group in pretest (44.70±3.44 & 35.30±3.19), STSFT group (45.50±2.87 & 36.00±3.45), and the control group was (45.40±2.75 & 37.20±2.57). The results showed that the MBT (52.00±3.12 & 43.80±2.54) and STSFT (54.00±2.90 & 42.50±5.01) compared to the control group (44.60±2.27 & 36.90±3.24) increased the resilience and happiness in MS patients on the posttest (P=0.001). Besides, the effect of MBT (52.00±3.16 & 44.00±2.58) and STSFT (53.70±2.66 & 42.60±4.94) on the resilience and happiness (44.60±2.27 & 36.70±4.83) persisted in the follow-up phase (P<0.001). It was also shown that the MBT and STSFT did not show any significant differences in terms of their effects on the resilience and happiness at posttest and follow-up phases (P>0.05).

It was found that the MBT and STSFT can reduce the patientschr('39') stress and thus enabling them to better cope with their illness, this in turn can increase the resilience and happiness in patients with MS.

Various exercise trainings affect human’s hormones. This study aimed to compare the effect of blood flow restriction (BFR) and resistance trainings with medium intensity (Kaatsu training) on salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels of beginner female body builders.

In this accidental clinical trial study, 28 beginner female body builders aged 20 to 35, were randomly divided into two groups of 14 volunteers. This study was conducted for 3 weeks, including 3 sessions per week for 90 minutes. The first group (N=14) performed the Kaatsu training with 30-25% of 1RM with blood flow restriction. The second group (N=14) performed the resistance exercise with 70-75% of 1RM without blood flow restriction. The amount of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase was measured before and after the experiment. Data were analyzed with SPSS software at the significant level of 0.05.

Salivary cortisol had a meaningful increase just in the resistance training group compared to the blood flow restriction group (P=0.001). However, both methods of training didn’t have a significant influence on salivary alpha-amylase (P>0.05).

In the current study, blood flow restriction trainings didn’t have any effect on salivary cortisol of female body builders. Nevertheless, in resistance trainings it had a significant increase. Both methods of training didn’t have any effect on salivary alpha-amylase of female body builders. So compared with resistance training, Kaatsu training probably doesn’t affect the salivary cortisol increase.

Infertility treatment methods, despite having successful results, are associated with psychological consequences and high levels of stress in infertile women. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of psychological empowerment package and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) on infertility stress of infertile women in the pretreatment phase of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

The present research employed a pretest-posttest and 45-day follow-up control group quasi-experimental design with three groups. The sample size consisted of 45 infertile women seeking IVF treatment referred to infertility centers in Isfahan city, selected via a convenience sampling method based on the inclusion criteria. Then they were randomly assigned to two experimental and one control groups (each with 15 participants). Experimental groups participated in psychological empowerment therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). To measure the dependent variable of infertility Stress, Infertility Stress Inventory (Newton et al., 1999) was administered to three groups in three research phases. The data were analyzed using the repeated measures ANOVA and through SPSS version: 24.

The results showed that only psychological empowerment therapy has had a significant effect on infertility stress (P<0.001). Bonferroni post hoc test revealed that psychological empowerment therapy was more effective in reducing infertility stress than Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

As the research results indicate, psychological empowerment therapy is a good method to reduce infertility stress of infertile women, in the pretreatment phase of IVF.

Activity has turned away from the human body by machine life and has replaced with obesity. This study aimed to investigate the interactive effect of eight weeks combined training and curcumin consumption on serum levels of interleukin-12 and some anthropometric indicators in obese sedentary woman.

Semi-experimental study, Forty-eight obese women with an age range of 20-30 years were purposefully selected and divided into four groups of 12 people: control, curcumin, exercise and exercise+curcumin and for eight weeks to do combination exercises (aerobic exercise with an intensity of 60 to 80% of the MHR and resistance training with an intensity of 55 to 75% of a maximum repetition) and daily intake of curcumin of 80 mg. Fasting blood samples were taken before and after the last training session and interleukin-12 levels were measured by ELISA using kits. Data were analyzed using dependent t-test and one-way analysis of variance and significance level less than 0.05 in SPSS-22.

There was a significant difference in levels of interleukin-12 and body mass index between the groups of exercise, exercise+curcumin and curcumin consumption compared to the pretest (p<0.05 intragroup). The difference between pre- and post-test group differences on levels of interleukin-12 and body mass index was significantly different between the research groups (p<0.05 between groups).

Eight weeks of combined training and curcumin consumption had a significant change in levels of IL-12. Physical activity causes weight loss and thus a decrease in body mass index, but the consumption of curcumin alone does not change the anthropometric indicators of individuals.

Inflammatory factors are known as an important mechanism for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of aerobic training and Spirulina supplementation on Resistin and CRP in women with type 2 diabetes with overweight.

In this semi-experimental study, 40 women with type 2 diabetes and overweight with average body mass index of 29.7±3.33, were randomly assigned in groups of aerobic training+Spirulina, aerobic+placebo, Spirulina and placebo. The aerobic training program included 6 weeks with intensity of 60-72% of the maximum heart rate. The groups receiving supplementation, daily received three capsules 500 mg of Spirulina. Blood samples were collected in the pre and posttest phases. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and t-test Using SPSS software.

Serum levels of Resistin in the Spirulina group (P=0.03) and serum levels of CRP in the of aerobic-Spirulina and aerobic groups (P=0.02) showed a significant decrease from the pre-test to the post-test phase. Also, there was a significant difference in serum levels of CRP between all three experimental groups compared to the control group (P≤ 0.05).

The results of this study showed that combined aerobic training with Spirulina supplementation have a positive effect on cardiovascular inflammatory factors of women with type 2 diabetes and because of its anti-inflammatory effect, it can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Test anxiety as a common phenomenon among students is correlated with many factors. This study aimed to comparatively investigate the perfectionism and academic procrastination in students with high and low test anxiety.

Sample consisted of 362 male and female students of 2nd course of high school of Kashan who were selected by multi-stage random sampling. In order to collect information the Academic Procrastination Scale, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and Test Anxiety Scale were used. Data were analyzed through t-test.

The results indicated that there was a significant difference between high and low test anxiety in studentschr('39') perfectionism and academic procrastination.

Students with high test anxiety were more perfectionist than students with low anxiety, with less positive perfectionism and more negative perfectionism. Also, these students showed more procrastination in their studies. These findings have empirical implications in educational environments that can have the role in studentschr('39') academic achievement.