Hormozgan Medical Journal
Volume:26 Issue: 2, Apr 2022

Diet-induced obesity is associated with several cardiovascular diseases and myocardial apoptosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on the myocardial apoptosis in the diet-induced obese rats.

Thirty-two male rats, after an obesity induction period, were randomly selected and assigned to four groups including non-obese control (NOC; n=8), basal obese control (BOC; n=8), obese control (OC; n=8), and obese+HIIT (OT; n=8). NOC and BOC groups were sacrificed before the training period. The OT group underwent a HIIT program performed 5 times/week over 12 weeks. Rat hearts were removed 48 hours after the last training session. The Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome-c, Bid, caspase-8, as well as caspase-3 protein expressions were analyzed using western blotting. Data were analyzed using independent t test.

After obesity induction period, the Bax, Bid, cytochrome-c, caspase-8, caspase-3 proteins, and Bax/Bcl-2 in BOC were found to be significantly higher than those in NOC (P=0.025, P=0.0001, P=0.013, P=0.017, P=0.01, P=0.18, respectively). However, Bcl-2 protein in BOC was detected to be significantly lower than that in NOC (P=0.025). The results obtained after completing HIIT training showed that Bid, cytochrome-c, caspase-8, caspase-3, and Bax/Bcl-2 in OT were lower than those in OC (P=0.005, P=0.039, P=0.001, P=0.04, P=0.05, respectively). However, Bcl-2 protein in OT was significantly higher than that in OC (P=0.004). No significant difference was found between OT and OC regarding Bax protein (P=0.32).

Diet-induced obesity may have exacerbated the myocardial apoptosis through both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. However, it seemed that HIIT training significantly prevented the increase of myocardial apoptosis in obese rats.

 Exercise therapy is one of the most effective methods for dealing with low back pain. The present study aimed to compare to examine the effects of two protocols, i.e., six weeks of lumbar stability exercises (LSE) and global postural reeducation exercises (GPR), followed by a subsequent period of non-training on hip muscle flexibility in men with chronic non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) with lumbar movement control impairment (MCI).

 In this randomized clinical trial, 46 men suffering from NSLBP with lumbar MCI were selected and randomly divided into three groups (i.e., two exercise groups - one control group). Training intervention groups were allowed to perform exercises for 6 weeks, three sessions per week. Universal goniometer was used to measure the flexibility of hip muscles (i.e., hamstring, rectus femoris, external rotator, and tensor fasciae latae). Repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to compare the effect and durability of the two training protocols on the dependent variables at a significant level.

 The results showed that both training methods increased hamstring muscle flexibility (P=0.001). GPR method was found superior in increasing the flexibility of the right hip of the subjects in the post-test (P=0.032) and follow-up (P=0.024). However, no significant differences were observed in the other hip muscles flexibility.

 It was concluded that the GPR method, compared to the lumbar stabilization method, had a greater potential to increase the flexibility of shortened muscles by enhancing the contraction of the antagonist muscles to avoid postural asymmetry. It seems both training protocols were effective in improving hamstring muscle flexibility in people with NSLBP suffering from MCI and this result was observed after both training and 4 weeks of inactivity.

Helping people with obesity as well as identifying the factors affecting their weight, body image, and self-esteem have become health necessities. Schema therapy is an effective method of third-wave psychotherapy for reducing the problems of obese people. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of schema therapy in watching body weight as well as improving body image and self-esteem in patients with obesity.

The present study was a randomized controlled trial. The study’s statistical population included all obese people referring to Mehr Counseling and Psychology Center in Tehran (Iran) in 2019. Out of the given population, 32 individuals were selected by adopting convenience sampling method and, then, were randomly divided into schema therapy (n=16) and control (n=16) groups. Data were obtained using body mass index (BMI), Cooper Smith self-esteem questionnaire, and body image questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using repeated-measures analysis of variance and SPSS 22 software. The significance level of the tests was set at 0.05.

The results showed that schema therapy had a significant effect on the weight (P<0.001), body image (P<0.001), and self-esteem (P<0.001) compared to the control group. The results also revealed that BMI and self-esteem were significantly improved by schema therapy training (P<0.001).

It was concluded that schema therapy had a positive effect on weight, body image, and selfesteem in people with obesity.

The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is on the rise worldwide. Since nurses are in close contact with infected people, they are a component of the infection transmission chain. Therefore, their knowledge and performance regarding COVID-19 prevention and protection methods can help break the transmission chain. This study aimed to evaluate the self-care level of nurses in charge of caring for patients with COVID-19.

The study population in this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study included all nursing staff working in the hospitals affiliated with the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences. A sample size of 110 nurses was determined adopting the convenience sampling. Data were collected using demographic information as well as questionnaires developed by the researchers to measure the knowledge and performance of the nurses responsible for dealing with COVID-19 patients.

A total of 158 nurses with a mean age of 33.77±6.92 years participated in the present study, 85.4% of who were female. Half of the participants (51.3%) showed generally good and excellent levels of self-care. Average scores of the knowledge and performance of nurses increased significantly with an increase in age and work experience (P<0.05). Moreover, the knowledge scores of nurses working in internal wards and intensive care unit (ICU) as well as the performance scores of nurses working in internal wards were lower than those of nurses working in COVID-19 wards.

It was found that nurses had relatively good knowledge and performance in dealing with COVID-19 patients. However, various factors such as work experience, age, place of work, etc. may have affected the knowledge and performance of nurses. Therefore, it was recommended that the training of medical staff should be organized so that the efforts to control the epidemic were not negatively affected by unintentional errors but were positively directed towards controlling the disease.

Exercise training has been shown to induce transient changes in immunity responses. Researchers have reported conflicting results about the effect of vigorous exercise training on immunoglobulins levels. Due to the lack of consistent existing findings as well as the lack of sufficient studies to clarify some of the ambiguities associated with scientific inconsistencies, this study aimed to examine the effect of short-term beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate (HMB) supplementation on serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in male wrestlers after an exhaustive exercise.

In this randomized clinical trial conducted at the IKIU Sports Physiology Laboratory in Qazvin, Iran, January 2019, 16 wrestlers completed an informed consent form and, then, were randomly divided into two groups (i.e., the supplement group (n=8) and the control group (n=8)). The supplement group received daily 40 mg/kg body weight HMB supplement over two weeks (about 3 g/day). As for the control group, starch was used as a placebo. Blood samples were obtained from the subjects to measure the serum immunoglobulin in five phases, including the pre-supplementation, before, immediately after, 1 hour after, and 24 hours after the exercise protocol. “Bruce test until exhaustion” was adopted as the exercise protocol in this study. Data analysis was performed by using repeated measure analysis and SPSS 24 software.

The results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups regarding the effects of supplementation of HMB on IgG (P=0.75) and IgA (P=0.56) levels. However, significant changes were observed in the levels of IgA (P=0.049) and IgG (P=0.001) in the groups.

According to the study results, It was suggested that the use of HMB supplementation at the dose used in this study may not have significantly affected the IgG and IgA levels after an exhaustive activity. However, it was recommended that further studies be carried out in this area to produce more consistent findings and clarify the ambiguities about the given issue.

Clinical studies have indicated that exercise activity and supplementation may have different effects on the immune system and health. The present study aimed to determine the effect of sesame and interval training on heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene expression and light chain 3-I (LC3-I) proteins among inactive, middle-aged men.

In this randomized clinical trial and quasi-experimental study which was conducted in fall, 2019, 60 middle-aged inactive men who had the habit of going to the parks in Karaj, Iran were selected as the study’s statistical subject and, then, were randomly divided into four groups (i.e., sesame supplement, interval training, sesame supplement+interval training, control). Sesame, and sesame supplement+interval training groups received sesame. The training protocol lasted for 12 weeks. HSP70 gene expression and LC3-I were measured before and after study using the enzymatic method. As for the homogeneity of variances, the Levene’s test and the Shapiro–Wilk test were used to investigate the natural distribution. Analysis of variance was used to investigate differences in four groups.

Significant differences were found regarding LC3-I (P<0.001) and HSP70 (P<0.001). According to the results of the Tukey post hoc test, there was a significant difference between the training+sesame group and controls (P≤0.05).

It was concluded that high interval intensity training with sesame reduced HSP70 gene expression and LC3-I. The novelty of this study lay in the fact that it found consuming supplementation and training capable of synergistically reducing chaperone protein and autophagy indicator.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases that affects a significant part of the community. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of schema therapy on the somatic symptom experience, medication adherence, and perceived stress in patients with IBS.

The research method was a quasi-experimental research with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up and a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all patients with IBS who referred to medical centers and neurologists between November and January 2017. The study sample included 30 patients with IBS who were randomly divided into equal schema therapy and control groups. The intervention lasted two months. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), Somatic Symptom Experience Questionnaire (BSS-FS), and Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MMAS-8) were used to collect data. In this study, means and standard deviations and analysis of variance with repeated measures were employed for descriptive statistics and the inferential analysis of results, respectively, using SPSS, version 22.

The results showed that schema therapy was effective on somatic symptom experience (P < 0.001), medication adherence (P < 0.001), and perceived stress (P < 0.001) in patients with IBS.

It can be concluded that schema therapy was effective on somatic symptom experience, medication adherence, and perceived stress in patients with IBS; thus, it can be used to reduce psychological problems in patients with IBS.

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been known as a highly pandemic virus that is characterized by a severe multiorgan pathology. Generally, cardio-respiratory complications are the dominant manifestations in patients infected with COVID-19. Since the coronavirus targets angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) receptors, however, the virus is also likely to exhibit multiorgan complications. Some retrospective cohorts as well as case studies have shown varying degrees of increased alanine transaminase (ALT)/aspartate transaminase (AST) in COVID-19 infections. A limited number of histopathological studies examining the liver have also reported an acute portal necrosis of this organ. Some other studies investigating the patients with COVID-19 have documented an acute hepatic encephalopathy with altered mental status. Beyond doubt, having a greater awareness of these complications positively contributes to timely and effective management and treatment of the patients. The present review article, therefore, aimed to highlight the consequences of developing hepatic encephalopathy for patients with COVID-19, its possible multifaceted mechanisms, and the management of neurological complications in these infected patients.