Jundishapur Journal of Health Sciences
Volume:16 Issue: 1, Jan 2024

 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver condition linked to a rise in other metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

 Thirty 5-week-old rats with an average body weight of 165.4 ± 31.3 g were randomly assigned into two main groups: A sham group (10 rats) and an experimental group (20 rats, including control for fatty liver and exercise + fatty liver subgroups). The high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group underwent a HIIT protocol for 8 weeks, training 5 days per week. The data were analyzed using a dependent t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Bonferroni's post hoc test.

 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease significantly increased CD36 and LFABP levels in liver tissue (P = 0.023 and P = 0.001, respectively). Eight weeks of interval training significantly decreased the levels of CD36 and LFABP in liver tissue (P = 0.019 and P = 0.007, respectively).

 The onset of non-alcoholic fatty liver elevates fatty acid transporter levels in liver tissue. However, eight weeks of HIIT markedly reduces these transporter levels.

 Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and anemia are significant disorders that occur during pregnancy, potentially leading to severe complications.

 This study explored the prevalence of urinary tract infections and anemia, along with their associated factors, among pregnant women.

 A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted with 700 pregnant women attending clinics in Khash, Iran, in 2022. A self-administered questionnaire collected data on the socio-demographic and clinical factors of these women. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test in SPSS software, version 22. Multiple logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

 The prevalence rates of anemia and urinary tract infections were 63.6% (95% CI: 59.8 - 67.1) and 49% (95% CI: 45.2 - 52.7), respectively. Significant associations were observed between anemia and the number of medical care visits, smoking status, the use of iron and folic acid supplements, history of abortion, and thalassemia (P-value < 0.05). Additionally, income level, previous history of urinary tract infections, education level, and syphilis were significantly associated with UTIs among pregnant women (P-value < 0.05).

 The prevalence rates of anemia and UTIs among pregnant women are high. Consequently, standard antenatal care services, as recommended for the early identification of risk factors, should be emphasized by the Ministry of Health and its stakeholders to mitigate the high prevalence of anemia and UTIs during pregnancy and their associated complications.

 The social causation hypothesis suggests that health is influenced by various social factors, including childhood living conditions and mobility pathways, and individual life satisfaction is primarily derived from the subjective sense of mobility and social class.

 Adverse changes in social factors and their negative effects on health have been observed in numerous studies. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between life satisfaction and subjective social mobility status in women from Rasht.

 Conducted between 2020 and 2021, this cross-sectional correlational study examined 800 married women residing in Rasht who met the inclusion criteria. Participants were selected using a cluster random method from various areas of the city. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics, the Ferrans and Powers Quality-of-Life Questionnaire, and the MacArthur Scale to measure participants' socioeconomic status (SES). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software and parametric statistical tests.

 The samples generally comprised individuals with intermediate socioeconomic status, and most participants indicated that their current living situation was better than that of their parents. The lowest average life satisfaction score was observed in the low socioeconomic status group, with participants experiencing downward mobility reporting the lowest life satisfaction scores. However, the results showed no significant difference in the satisfaction levels among different social mobility groups of women (P = 0.60).

 Our findings underscore the importance of researchers reflecting on and being sensitive to experiences related to social class and mobility. The study confirmed that individuals with downward social mobility tend to have lower life satisfaction. Social factors are strongly associated with health outcomes, emphasizing the need for the modern healthcare system to consider the impact of social factors on individuals' well-being.

 The pathogenesis of obesity is very complex, and a number of factors are involved in its occurrence. To treat or control obesity and diabetes, various treatment methods, such as the use of natural and synthetic drugs or lifestyle modifications, are recommended for obese people. Exercise is an active lifestyle that can have beneficial effects on obese people. Due to people's concerns about the side effects of chemical drugs, including drug resistance, today in medicine, the use of herbal compounds with different properties, including cinnamon, has been considered by everyone.

 In the current work, simultaneous application of cinnamon extract (CE) and aerobic practices were studied on the expression of the resistin gene (RG) in adipose tissue of male rats on a high-fat diet.

 The influence of 5 days a week of aerobic exercise for 6 weeks, along with a simultaneous high-fat diet (as an emulsion with the rate of 150 mL in excess of the routine diet) and consumption of CE (200 mg/kg), were studied. The expression of the RG in adipose tissue of male rats that received a high-fat diet in their daily food was assessed. Independent variables of the present study included performing 6 weeks of aerobic exercise, consumption of CE, and high-fat diet as the underlying variables. The mRNA expression of the proteins was evaluated using real-time PCR. The effect of variables on between-group and within-group changes was assessed using a one-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni test.

 Different patterns, including high-fat diet, cinnamon, and combinations of high-fat diet/cinnamon, high-fat diet/aerobic exercise, and high-fat diet/aerobic exercise, were significant on resistin in adipose tissue.

 The best results in terms of mitigating the adverse effects of diet on the expression of RG were observed for a combination of six weeks of exercise and CE. Therefore, the simultaneous utilization of aerobic exercise and CE is recommended.

 The seed of Irvingia gabonensis is recognized for its potential bioactivity and medicinal benefits, yet its cytotoxicity and chemical composition have not been fully investigated.

 This study aimed to evaluate the bioactivity and cytotoxicity of the ethanol extract of Irvingia gabonensis seed and its ethyl acetate fraction using brine shrimp as a model organism.

 The ethanol extract was prepared through maceration using a Soxhlet extractor, followed by the derivation of the ethyl acetate fraction. The bioactivity and cytotoxicity of both extracts were assessed through the brine shrimp lethality assay, with lethal concentration 50% (LC50) values calculated to gauge cytotoxicity. The extracts of Irvingia gabonensis seed were tested against brine shrimp to determine their LC50 values and cell viability was also evaluated. Cyclophosphamide served as a reference compound for comparative purposes.

 Both the ethanol extract and its ethyl acetate derivative showed moderate cytotoxicity against brine shrimp, with LC50 values of 93.22 ± 0.03 μg/mL and 190.80 ± 0.03 μg/mL, respectively. Importantly, the ethanol derivative exhibited a higher cytotoxicity compared to the ethyl acetate fraction, with LC50 values of both derivatives being comparable to that of cyclophosphamide.

 These findings indicate that the ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction of Irvingia gabonensis seed demonstrates considerable bioactivity and cytotoxicity against brine shrimp, underscoring the potential of Irvingia gabonensis seed extracts as sources of bioactive compounds for therapeutic use.

 The loss of a parent significantly affects the academic performance, social interactions, and overall well-being of students.

 The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of positive psychology training and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in reducing psychological distress and improving motivational beliefs among students who have experienced the loss of a parent.

 This quasi-experimental study adopted a pretest-posttest follow-up design and included two experimental groups and one control group. The research focused on female secondary school students in Ahvaz, Iran, who were grieving the death of a parent. Sixty participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (n = 20 each). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS 23.

 The findings indicated that both positive psychology training and ACT significantly impacted the participants' psychological distress and motivational beliefs. There were significant differences between the effects of positive psychology training and ACT, with positive psychology training showing a more substantial influence on reducing psychological distress and enhancing motivational beliefs than ACT.

 This study concludes that both positive psychology training and ACT are effective in boosting motivational beliefs and mitigating psychological distress among students grieving the loss of a parent.