nakisa mohammadpour

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease affecting both the quality of life and mental health of patients. This study aimed to evaluate personality characteristics and cognitive emotion regulation strategies in individuals with diabetes and pre-diabetes compared to the healthy people.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 207 participants (54 males and 153 females), including 70 diabetic, 68 pre-diabetic, and 69 healthy people. To collect data, the Persian version of the NEO Personality Inventory test and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed in SPSS software version 20 and the variables were compared in three groups using multivariate analysis of covariance with a significance level of α = 0.05.

The three groups did not differ in terms of gender distribution; however, their mean age was significantly different (diabetic group: 51.14±10.35, pre-diabetic: 44.79±10.60, healthy: 40.88±10.54 years; P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of personality characteristics (P>0.05). In cognitive emotion regulation strategies, the mean scores of self-blame and rumination were significantly higher in the diabetic group than in the pre-diabetic and healthy groups (P=0.02 and P=0.009, respectively). The result was the opposite regarding a refocus on planning. Moreover, the mean scores of catastrophizing were significantly higher in the diabetic (12.80±3.17) and pre-diabetic groups (12.49±3.33) than in the healthy group (11.17±3.11; P=0.02).

Using negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies may reduce the mental health of both diabetic patients and pre-diabetes individuals. The findings of the present study confirmed the necessity for psychological counseling as a part of treatment protocols in both diabetic and pre-diabetic patients.

The aim of the current study was to determine effects of probiotic yoghurt and multispecies probiotic capsule supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in petrochemical workers. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done among petrochemical workers. Subjects were randomly divided into three groups to receive 100 g/day probiotic yogurt (n = 12) or one probiotic capsule daily (n = 13) or 100 g/day conventional yogurt (n = 10) for 6 weeks. The probiotic yoghurt was containing two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis with a total of min 1 × 107 CFU. Multispecies probiotic capsule contains seven probiotic bacteria spices Actobacillus casei 3 × 103, L. acidophilus 3 × 107, Lactobacillus rhamnosus 7 × 109, Lactobacillus bulgaricus 5 × 108, Bifidobacterium breve 2 × 1010, Bifidobacterium longum 1 × 109 and Streptococcus thermophilus 3 × 108 CFU/g. Fasting blood samples were obtained at the beginning and end of the trial to quantify biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. Although a significant within-group decrease in plasma protein carbonyl levels was seen in the probiotic capsule group (326.0 ± 308.9 vs. 251.0 ± 176.3 ng/mL, P = 0.02), the changes were similar among the three groups. In addition, significant within-group decreases in plasma iso prostaglandin were observed in the probiotic supplements group (111.9 ± 85.4 vs. 88.0 ± 71.0 pg/ mL, P = 0.003) and in the probiotic yogurt group (116.3 ± 93.0 vs. 92.0 ± 66.0 pg/mL, P = 0.02), nevertheless there were no significant change among the three groups. Taken together, consumption of probiotic yogurt or multispecies probiotic capsule had beneficial effects on biomarkers of oxidative stress in petrochemical workers

The role of nutrition in the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) and related complications such as fatigue has been reported by several studies. The aim of this study is the assessment of nutritional status and its relationship with fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients. This is a cross-sectional study, in which 101 relapsing-remitting MS patients were enrolled. The fatigue status was determined using the validated Persian version of of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day food record questionnaire and compared to dietary reference intake (DRI) values. Association between variables was determined using Pearson Correlation Coefficient. In the preset study, 25 men and 76 women (total = 101) were enrolled. Analysis of dietary intake showed that daily intake of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and magnesium were significantly lower than DRI in all of patients. In men, zinc intake was significantly lower than DRI; while, in women, iron was significantly below the DRI level. After adjusting for energy, MFIS and its physical subscale were highly correlated with intake of folate and magnesium. Our findings support that lower magnesium and folate diets are correlated with higher fatigue scores in MS patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an irregular response of immune system accompanied with different inflammatory manifestations including alterations in cytokines. Probiotics are non-pathogenic organisms with probable effects in various conditions such as inflammation. The present study hypothesized whether oral intake of bifidobacterium and lactobacillus in form of probiotic yogurt may represent an immunomodulatory effect in IBD patients. Overally, 210 patients in remission phase and 95 healthy people were recruited. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of either 250 grams of probiotic yogurt (PI) or 250 grams of plain yogurt (PC) daily for 8 weeks. The healthy control group (HG) also received probiotic yogurt as noted. The serum levels ofcytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10 and CRP levels were measured at baseline and at termination time. A significant difference was observed between intervention groups of PI and PC with HG group (p<0.05). After the intervention, serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and CRP were significantly decreased in PI group compared to their baseline values and intervention groups. The serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 increased significantly after the intervention compared to baseline values and PC levels (all p values<0.05). Intestinal homeostasis is a balance between pro and anti-inflammatory responses of intestinal immunocytes and could be maintained by probiotics.