Thrita
Volume:10 Issue: 27, Jun 2021

Volleyball requires high anaerobic and aerobic capacity, so to evaluate this important issue, there are various tests such as Bruce maximal test. There is no standard field test to measure cardiovascular function for women volleyball according to exercise mode.

This study aimed to design and validation of functional cardiorespiratory exercise field tests in women volleyball players.

In a diagnostic value study, 64 competitive female volleyball players with three years of playing experience (Age: 27 ± 6) were voluntarily selected from Tehran’s first division league. To evaluate VO2max, the Bruce test and the newly designed test, which was fully explained in the methodology section, were used. Data were analyzed using the ROC curve test.

The results showed that the area under the curve exceeded 0.71%, and the sensitivity and specificity values were 70.8% and 75%, respectively. The PPV obtained in this study was 89.5, and also the NPV values were 46.2, indicating relatively good reliability for screening.

The present study shows that the newly designed test for women volleyball players, which uses a special exercise mode in modeled volleyball, has relatively good reliability. This test may be used as an efficient and inexpensive field test to measure the VO2max in women volleyball players.

Dissociative symptoms have been reported to result from issues such as substance use. However, there is limited knowledge on the relationship between methamphetamine use and dissociative symptoms, and only a few studies have been conducted on this issue.

Given little knowledge on the relationship between methamphetamine use and dissociative symptoms, in particular dissociative disorders, the present study was done to investigate the prevalence of dissociative experiences and dissociative disorders in methamphetamine users in Shahid Beheshti hospital of Kerman City, Kerman Province, Iran.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, two groups of subjects, including methamphetamine users (N = 50) and controls (N = 51), were randomly selected from the individuals referring to Shahid-Beheshti Hospital, Kerman City, from September 2016 to March 2018. After validating the diagnosis of methamphetamine use via methamphetamine positive-urine test, the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and dissociative disorders interview schedule-DSM5 (DDIS) were employed to assess dissociative experiences and disorders, respectively. Next, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was utilized for the determination of positive and negative symptoms of psychosis in the case group. Finally, the chi-square test and t test were applied for comparing the study groups using SPSS version 20 software.

Our findings revealed that the mean score of dissociative symptoms was 15.3 in methamphetamine users. The mean score of depersonalization/derealization subscale of DES, as a dissociative experience, was higher in the case group (P < 0.01). The experience of possession, as a dissociative experience, was recorded in 17 methamphetamine users, while 18 (36%) methamphetamine users were diagnosed with dissociative disorder. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the DES score and positive symptoms in methamphetamine users (P < 0.05).

According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that methamphetamine induces dissociative psychosis in methamphetamine users.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting many people around the world. Recently, it has been reported that toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a role in AD; therefore, the present study aimed to systematically review the studies and to meta-analyze the role of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in AD.

Seven main electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, will be considered with no language restrictions. Full texts of articles will be prepared by a determined search strategy. Studies including the assessment of TLR9 function in adults with AD, published before June 15 2020, will be considered. Hence, this protocol will be presented based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statements for protocols. The related results and data analyses will be provided in the final review. This paper plans the protocol for a systematic review identifying TLR9 up-regulation and down-regulation in adults with AD.

The meta-analysis of TLR9 may subsequently provide attractive therapeutic tools for AD.

To begin an educational program for diabetic patients, the assessment of their current level of knowledge (K), attitude (A), and practice (P) was necessary.

This research aimed to estimate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the general public, because of diabetes mellitus.

A convenient sampling method was used to select 384 of every single person who was admitted to a research, educational and medical center, in the western north of Tehran, in 2018. KAP questionnaire on diabetes was completed, and the level of KAP was evaluated in diabetic and non-diabetic people using SPSS software.

The overall mean (± SD) of the knowledge, attitude, and practice was 12.13 ± 3.84, 5.52 ± 5 and 10.68 ± 51.96, respectively. Several linear regressions in the two groups for the total knowledge scores, total attitudes scores, and total practice scores displayed several significant (adjusted) associations.

The results of this study showed that we need to increase the knowledge and attitude of patients with diabetes about a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a healthy diet, and weight loss.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis are currently considered as reliable techniques for the species identification of meat-based products and widely used to detect meat adulteration.

To examine the validity of real-time PCR and HRM analysis to identify meat species in meat-based products.

Meat samples from five species (i.e., cattle, sheep, chicken, turkey, and wild pig) were purchased. Minced meat from the animal species of interest was prepared at the purities of 10%, and 20% and also were prepared as single and mixtures of two species. For molecular assessments, DNA samples were extracted from all the meat samples and subjected to real-time PCR by amplifying a mitochondrial cytochrome b specific for each species.

All the meat species studied in this research were successfully detected in the mixed meat samples when separately examined by real-time PCR. High-resolution melting analysis showed that all the meat species of interest were efficiently distinguished when examined simultaneously.

The data presented here shows that the real-time PCR and HRM analysis are reliable methods for the identification of meat species used in meat products.

Malaria is a parasitic infection that is common in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It is estimated to kill one million individuals annually. Detarium microcarpum (Fabaceae family) is used traditionally for the treatment of malaria, diabetes, hypertension, convulsions, pneumonia, leprosy, and meningitis. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the antiplasmodial potential and safety profile of the methanol extract of D. microcarpum stem bark.

The extract was subjected to phytochemical screening and oral median lethal dose (LD50) estimation. Using curative, suppressive, and prophylactic experimental animal models, antiplasmodial activity was assessed in mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei berghei. Biochemical and hematological tests were conducted in rats orally administered with the extract for 28 days. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data, followed by Dunnett's post hoc test.

Alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, triterpenes, and glycosides were found in the extract through phytochemical analysis. When compared to the negative control group, the extract at the tested doses (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) showed a significant (P < 0.001) curative, suppressive, and prophylactic effect and significantly (P < 0.001) prolonged the survival time of mice in the treated groups. The extract had an insignificant (P > 0.05) effect on the biochemical and hematological parameters tested.

The results suggest that the stem bark extract of D. microcarpum at the doses tested possesses antiplasmodial activity and is relatively safe after short-term use.