Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences

Effect of Lippia citriodora kunth extract on embryogenesis and hatching of Fasciola hepatica eggs, in vitro

Mahdi Mosayebi

Introduction: Fasciolosis is one of the most important parasitic disease common among both humans and livestock. That causes several health problems and economical losses in different parts of Iran. In order to control this disease, chemicals are used, which in some cases lead to resistance to the used substances and cause environmental problems. In this study, the effectiveness of the ethanolic extract of Lippia citriodora on the eggs of Fasciola hepatica is investigated.
Methods: Fasciola hepatica eggs were obtained from the liver and gall bladders of naturally infected sheep and kept at 4˚C until use. Ethanol extract of Lippia citriodora kunth was provided from dried leaves. The eggs were exposed to Different concentration of extract. Concentrations of Lippia citriodora extract (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75 and 100%). Control group eggs were placed in chlorine-free water. Egg and embryo development stages to complete and release miracidia were examined every day. Ethical considerations: This study was conducted after receiving the code of ethics (93-175-13) from the University Research Council.
Results: In concentration of 10 percent Lippia citriodora, miracidia was formed after 16 days in the egg. With increasing of concentration percentage of the extract, time of miracidia formation in eggs also rose. The time of miracidia formation between cases and control group is significantly different (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Our study shows that extract of Lippia citriodora is an effective inhibiting factor against development of Fasciola eggs.

Respiratory pattern variability impairment in patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

saeed pazhoohan

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating condition. People with COPD often experience exacerbations that may require hospitalization. Pattern analysis of respiratory variability can provide valuable insights into the complexity of the respiratory control system. Therefore, this study investigated respiratory pattern variability during stable and exacerbation phases in patients with COPD.
We analyzed respiratory signal data from 14 patients with COPD during exacerbations and stable phases and compared them with 12 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Respiratory pattern variability analysis of 30-minute inter-breath intervals (IBI) time series was performed using sample entropy and Detrended Fluctuation Analysis.
Sample entropy analysis of the IBI revealed that respiratory variability was more regular during both stable and exacerbation phases in patients with COPD. Also, the short-term (α1) and long-term fractal-like correlation (α2) significantly decreased during both exacerbation and stable phases compared to healthy controls.
The respiratory control system in patients with COPD shows less variability (lower entropy and fractal correlation). This reduction in respiratory signal variability indices in COPD patients is still lower than in healthy people, even when their disease status is stabilized.

Effectiveness of problem solving training on life orientation, positive and negative emotions and learned helplessness of incompatible couples: Quasi-experimental design

Shahrbanoo Dehrouyeh

Background and Objectives: The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of problem solving training on life orientation, positive and negative emotions, and learned helplessness in incompatible couples in Qaemshahr city.
Materials and Methods: The method of the present research was an experiment and a quasi-experimental research design with a control group. The statistical population included all couples who referred to counseling centers in Qaemshahr city in 2023. 30 couples were selected as a sample using available sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). Then, the subjects of the experimental group received problem solving training during 8 sessions of 60 minutes. In order to collect data from life orientation questionnaires (Shier and Carver, 1994), positive and negative affect (Watson et al., 1988) and learned helplessness (Quinless and Nilsson, 1988) in two stages before and after training in both groups (experiment and control) were used.
Results: The findings from the analysis of covariance test showed that problem solving training improved optimism in life orientation, increased positive emotion, and reduced learned helplessness in the tested group (p=0.05).
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present research, in the field of therapy and counseling of incompatible couples, training in problem solving for the compatibility of couples and solving their conflicts; It looks very efficient and promising.

Investigating the Effect of the Post-activation Potentiation Method and Caffeine Supplementation on Performance and Peripheral Fatigue Factors of Wikstrom Fatigue Protocol in Male Volleyball Players

Hamid Rajabi

Introduction: Athletes use diverse strategies, including caffeine supplementation, to reduce fatigue and improve their performance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the post-activation potentiation method and caffeine supplementation on peripheral fatigue after Wikstrom's fatigue protocol in young male volleyball players.
Methods: In this study, forty male volleyball players with an average age of 27.33 ± 1.78 years and an average weight of 76.5 ± 7.45 kg participated. They were divided into four experimental groups: a group that used only the PAP method (n=10), a group that consumed only caffeine (n=10), a group that both performed PAP and consumed caffeine (n=10), and a control group (n=10). For the groups receiving caffeine, a caffeine supplement was administered at a dose of 6 mg per kilogram of body weight, 15 minutes before starting the protocol. PAP exercises were performed at an intensity of 70% of the one-repetition maximum. Blood samples were taken one hour before and one hour after completing the Wikstrom six-station protocol. All subjects participated in this study voluntarily and they had no illness or injury at the start of the research.
Results: The results of the present study showed that the implementation of PAP along with caffeine showed a significant increase in the variables of time to exhaustion and the number of rounds (p<0.05), while the rate of ammonia showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). In contrast, uric acid showed no significant difference (p>0.05).
Conclusions: The results of the present study, showed that the use of caffeine reduces peripheral fatigue. Also, since the use of PAP did not have an adverse effect on the participant's performance, athletes can use this method concurrently with caffeine to improve their performance in endurance activities.

Investigating the effectiveness of process-based therapy on depression in women suffering from iron deficiency anemia and generalized anxiety disorder: Single Subject Study

ghodratollah abbasi

Introduction: A woman due to menstruation, pregnancy and poor iron intake and absorption it is prone to iron deficiency anemia and its effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of process-based treatment on anxiety in women suffering from iron deficiency anemia and generalized anxiety disorder.
Methods: It was performed by utilizing a single-case experimental design. In doing this, six female participants suffering from iron deficiency anemia were selected through purposive sampling and placed under the individual process-based therapy during nine 60-minute sessions. In the pre-treatment stage, the participants responded to Newman, Zueling, Kachin and Constantino's fourth version of the generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire and underwent clinical interviews. They also completed the Beck's depression inventory in the baseline stages and third, sixth and ninth sessions of the intervention and finally at the 3-month follow up stages. The data were analyzed by the method of visual analysis, stable change index and recovery percentage formula, and the effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated using the Ingram criteria.
Results: The results showed that the percentage of overall recovery in depression for the first to sixth participants in the intervention stage was 49/26، 50/54، 59/27, 76/20، 54/41 و 57/83 and in the follow-up stages was 70/10، 64/70، 75/93، 78/61، 77/57 و 84/93; respectively. Also, the percentage of overall recovery in the intervention and follow-up stages was 57/90 and 75/30; respectively indicating to a success in therapy.
Conclusions: Process-based therapy reduces depression of the research participants and it is suggested to be used as a method of treatment and complementary to medical treatment to remedy comorbid mental disorders and improve the general performance of people with anemia.

Comparative Efficacy of 1% Permethrin Shampoo and 4% Dimethicone Lotion for the Ttreatment of Infected Head Lice Students in Primary Girl Schools in Gotvand County of Khuzestan Province

Hassan Nasirian

Introduction: Head lice (Pediculus capitis) infestation is considered an important hygienic problem in developing countries. The aim of study was to compare 1% permethrin shampoo and 4% dimethicone lotion effects for treatment of infected head lice students in primary girl schools in Gotvand County, Khuzestan province.
Methods: The studied population was first- to sixth-grade students in elementary schools. Positive cases with head lice after identification (304 persons) were randomly divided into two treatment groups. Permethrin shampoo and dimethicone lotion were allocated for the first and the second groups, respectively. The drug therapeutic effects were studied after 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test using SPSS software.
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1399.778).
Results: In total, 304 students participated in the study. The age of students ranged between 7 and 12 years which 47.7% of them were between 7 and 8 years. Also 60.9 and 39.1% of them were in urban and rural schools, respectively. The drug effectiveness were 46.1, 69.5 and 100, and 77.6, 85.3 and 100% for permethrin and dimethicone in the first, second and third intervals after treatment, respectively. There was a significant difference between the effect of drugs in the first interval (P = 0.00) after treatment but there was not a significant difference between the second (P = 0.084) and the third (P = 0.43) intervals after treatment.
Conclusions: It is recommended the use of dimethicone lotion and permethrin shampoo as the first and second option, respectively in eliminating the head lice infestation in primary girl schools.

The effect of resistance training with weights on nerve conduction speed, physical fitness and performance of seven- to ten-year-old gymnasts

Raziyeh Rezaei

Abstract
Introduction: Resistance training (RT) is an important part of athletes' preparation exercises with the aim of strengthening physical fitness, creating neuro-muscular adaptations and improving sports performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training with weight on NCV of tibial and peroneal nerves, muscle strength, agility, flexibility and performance of half-back, half-turn and angel balance skills in seven- to ten-year-old gymnasts.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 24 children with two years of experience in gymnastics (age: 8.5±1.5 years, weight: 32.10±9.40 kg, height: 135±13 cm) voluntarily Participated. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups including gymnastics training and gymnastics training + resistance training with weights. And they trained for 10 weeks. During the research, one group did general gymnastics exercises, and the other group did resistance training with weights three times a week in addition to gymnastics exercises. Before and after the exercises, NCV test, Sargent's jump muscle power tests, agility of 9x4m back-and-forth run, Wells' flexibility, and performing half-back, half-turn and balance skills of Angel were performed. Independent t-test was used to analyze the data. And a significance level of P<0.05 was considered.
Results: The results showed that the NCV in the tibial and peroneal nerves increased significantly in the weight resistance training group compared to the general gymnastics training group. Also, muscle strength in Sargent's jump, agility in 4x9m back and forth running, and the performance of half-back and half-turn skills increased significantly (P<0.05). However, no significant change was observed in the flexibility with the Wells test (P=0.870) and execution of Angel's balance skill (P=0.552).
conclusion: 10 weeks of resistance training with weights significantly increases neuromuscular adaptations, NCV, muscle power, agility, and implementation of half-back and half-varus skills in gymnast children. Therefore, it is suggested to use resistance exercises with weights to improve the performance of children athletes in the field of gymnastics and fields where nerve conduction speed, muscle power and agility are effective in the success of athletes.

the effect of swimming training on the expression of caspase 1 and AIM2 protein in Hippocampus male wistar rats

Raziyeh Rezaei

Backgrand: Inflammation can cause damage to the central nervous system, leading to neuropathological diseases such as stroke, pain, schizophrenia, and Alzheimers. AIM2 is a member of the PYHIN hematopoietic nuclear protein family that binds to cytosolic DNA and activates caspase-1, one of the inflammatory-mediated caspases that activates pro-inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of a swimming training course on the expression of caspase-1 and AIM2 proteins in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats.
Method: The statistical population of this study included 16 male Wistar rats (6 weeks) divided into two groups: a group without training and an endurance training group. Eight rats were placed in each group. The group without training did not engage in any sports activities, while the training group participated in a swimming training session. After a 4-day familiarization period, the rats swam for 30 minutes from the fifth day. Independent T-test was used to evaluate the interventions, and all statistical calculations were done using SPSS statistical software.
Results: The results of this research showed that exercise caused a significant decrease in the level of caspase-1 and AIM2 proteins in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats.
Discussion: Overall, this study suggests that endurance swimming training can effectively reduce caspase-1 and AIM2 proteins. Therefore, it is possible that exercise, by reducing inflammatory factors, can be a potential treatment for diseases caused by inflammation, such as sclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimers.