Showing 10 results for Afshar
Morteza Behnam Rassouli, Nargess Ghayour, Majid Afsharian, Maryam Tehranipour, Mohammad Bagher Ghayour,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (4-2010)
Abstract
Background: Oxidative stress is one of the probable molecular mechanisms involved in lead (Pb) neurotoxicity. On the other hand, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) which is widely used in traditional medicine, has a high antioxidant activity. In this study, the protective impacts of Melissa officinalis on the adverse effects of Pb toxicity on learning ability were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental-clinical trial, 40 virgin Wistar rats were mated and divided into control, control positive (vitamin C+Pb), control negative (Pb), and 3 Pb and Mellisa experimental groups. Mellisa was orally administered in three doses including + 25, 50 and 100 mg/ kg of body weight daily. Treatment started from 7th day of gestation and continued through pregnancy and lactation periods. The three month- old offsprings in each group were assessed in terms of memory and learning ability by Morris water maze test and the results were compared between the groups. Results: Exposure to Pb during and after gestation leads to learning disorders. While concomitant administration of Pb and Melissa, as well as vitamin C can, to a large degree, reduce the adverse effects of Pb on learning abilities. Conclusion: Since no significant differences were obtained from the comparison of results in the control, Pb+M and vitamin C+Pb groups, it can be concluded that Melissa has antioxidant impacts equal to vitamin C. Therefore, similar to vitamin C, Mellisa can decrease the neurotoxic effects of Pb.
Masoume Afshari, Hamid Taher Neshat Doost, Fatemeh Bahrami, Hamid Afshar,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (4-2010)
Abstract
Background: This study was designed to investigate on efficacy of metacognitive–behavioral therapy (MCBT) on panic beliefs of panic female patients. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical- trial study. The participants, who were 24 panic female patients diagnosed with panic disorder, were selected from 76 panic patients referring to psychiatric clinics. The participants were randomly assigned in to two experimental and control groups. The data were gathered using the panic belief questionnaire which was completed in pretest, posttest and follow-up stages by the participants. MCBT was conducted in 8 sessions on the experimental group while the control group, in addition to the reception of common medical treatments, was laid in waiting list for psychological therapy. Results: According to the results of covariance analysis, the mean of panic beliefs scores obtained in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Panic female patients who attended in MCBT acquired lower scores in panic belief than the control group. Therefore, the results demonstrate that MCBT approach causes to keduce panic beliefs in panic female patients.
Athar Afshar, Abbas Amanelahi,
Volume 18, Issue 10 (1-2016)
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to test the proposed model for the impact of self-efficacy beliefs on parent’s anxiety and marital adjustment with mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies among parents of chronically ill children of ahwaz city.
Materials and Methods: The statistical universe was all the parents of chronically ill children who was selected by Convenience sampling method.The research tools are included the self-efficacy questionnaire (SES), anxiety questionnaire (STAI), Spanier marital adjustment questionnaire and Garnesfki cognitive emotion regulation strategies questionnaire.Amos 18 program software was applied for structural equation modeling (SEM).The indirect relationship was tested with bootstrap Amos 18 program software.
Results: The results revealed that the tested model had good fit indices.
Conclusion: Results revealed that self-efficacy beliefs directly influenced on parent's anxiety, marital adjustment, and adaptive and nonadaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Also, adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies have a direct relation with parent's anxiety and marital adjustment. In addition, there was a direct relation between nonadaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and marital adjustment. Alternatively, self-efficacy beliefs directly influenced on anxiety and marital adjustment with mediating role of adaptive cognitive emotion tegulation strategies and indirectly influenced on adjustment with mediating role of nonadaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies.
Mehri Jamilian, Roghayeh Afshar,
Volume 19, Issue 12 (3-2017)
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The efficacy of evening primrose oil has been reported in metabolic syndrome and other diseases.The role of vitamin D has been proposed in the risk reducing of chronic diseases such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes too. We are aware of no study that examined the effects of evening primrose oil and vitamin D supplementation on metabolic profiles in gestational diabetes (GDM). This study was designed to assess the effects of evening primrose oil and vitamin D supplementation on metabolic profiles among pregnant women with GDM.
Materials and Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 women with GDM. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either evening primrose oil and vitamin D supplements (n=30) or placebo (n=30) for 6 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at study baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention to quantify biochemical variables.
Results: Evening primrose oil and vitamin D supplementation led to a significant decrease in serum high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP ) levels (change from baseline: -1.9±4.0 vs. +0.6±2.6 µg/mL, p=0.006) and MDA (-0.8±2.1 vs. +0.6±1.5 µmol/L,p=0.005) compared with placebo. Furthermore, a significant increase in plasma NO (+2.5±3.8 vs. -1.9±8.1 µmol/L, p=0.009) and TAC levels (+84.4±174.8 vs. -36.4±143.1 mmol/L, p=0.005) was seen after evening primrose oil and vitamin D supplementation compared with placebo.
Conclusion: Evening primrose oil and vitamin D supplementation in GDM women had beneficial effects on metabolic profiles.
Haleh Sadat Tavakkol Afshari, Masoud Homayouni Tabrizi, Touran Ardalan,
Volume 22, Issue 4 (9-2019)
Abstract
Background and Aim Among nano-pharmaceutical materials, nanoemulsions are an important tool in the field of nanotechnology. They have been designed for clinical and therapeutic applications. Since the therapeutic efficacy of cancer is measured by the ability of the drug to reduce and eliminate tumors without damaging healthy tissues, nanoemulsions can be useful as a targeted drug carrier. Therefore, we are going to study the antioxidant and anticancer effects of nanoemulsions prepared using dill essential oil.
Methods and Materials Evaluate the antioxidant properties, we used DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid]) tests. We also applied MTT assay for the evaluation of induced cytotoxicity in liver hepatocellular carcinoma cells and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Ethical Considerations The Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University (Mashhad Branch) approved this study (Code: IR.IAU.MSHD.REC.1398.027).
Results Nanoemulsions prepared using dill essential oil has a good potential for inhibiting DPPH (IC50=500 μg/mL) and ABTS (IC50=420 μg/mL) radicals. Nanoemulsions also caused a little toxicity to both cell lines. Nanoemulsions reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and the cytotoxicity induced to cancer cells was higher than normal cells.
Conclusion The present study indicates that nanoemulsions prepared by dill essential oil will have the potential to become a therapeutic strategy for diseases caused by oxidative stress.
Haleh Sadat Tavakkol Afshari, Masoud Homayouni Tabrizi, Touran Ardalan,
Volume 24, Issue 1 (April & May 2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Angiogenesis is the process of forming new blood vessels from the old ones; it plays an important role in physiological conditions, such as growth, wound healing, and reproduction. This process also plays a vital role in pathological phenomena and the occurrence of various diseases, especially tumor growth and metastasis. The present study evaluated the anti-angiogenic effects of nanoemulsion synthesized from Anethum graveolens essential oil using the CAM method.
Methods & Materials: To investigate the anti-angiogenic effects on the second day of incubation, a window was opened on the eggs. Subsequently, on the eighth day, a gelatin sponge with nanoemulsion with different doses (12.5, 25, and 50 μg/mL) was inserted on the chorioallantoic membrane. On the 12th day of incubation, a research stereomicroscope was used to evaluate the rate of angiogenesis and imaging of the treated area. Vascular factors were examined by Image J software.
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University (Code: IR.IAU.MSHD.REC.1398.027).
Results: The obtained results concerning the effect of nanoemulsion on the rate of angiogenesis in the CAM test indicated a decrease in the length and number of vessels of the chorioallantoic membrane in the treated samples, compared to the controls. Moreover, there was a reduction in the height and weight of treated fetuses, compared to the untreated fetuses (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The anti-angiogenic activity of nanoemulsion synthesized from Anethum graveolens essential oil indicated the possible use of this substance for diseases, like cancer, in which the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. Therefore, Anethum graveolens nanoemulsion can be suggested as an agent for further cancer studies.
Vahid Hemmati Sabet, Saeedeh Alsadat Hoseini, Karim Afsharinia, Mokhtar Arefi,
Volume 24, Issue 4 (October & November 2021)
Abstract
Background and Aim: The main objective of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) on health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) and quality of life (QoL) of HIV/AIDS patients.
Methods & Materials: The current study was an experimental study based on a pre-test-post-test design with a control group, and based on the objectives, it can be considered an applied study. The statistical population of the study included all HIV patients monitored by behavioral disorders clinics of the Healthcare Organization Centers in Hamedan County in Iran in 2019-2020. Using simple random sampling method, 45 patients were randomly selected from Shohada Clinic in Hamedan as the sample of the study, followed by randomly assigning them to three 15-member groups, i.e., two intervention groups and a control group. In order to measure the research variables, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) (1987) and the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36, 2001) were utilized. The obtained data were analyzed using ANCOVA in SPSS v. 12.
Ethical Considerations: The Ethics Committee of Hamedan University of Medical Sciences approved the study (Code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1398.1063). This study has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Code: IRCT20120215009014N348).
Results: The results of ANCOVA indicate that schema therapy and DBT affect HPL and quality of life, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results show that while both therapy methods affect the selected variables, schema therapy is more effective than DBT on HPL and Quality of Life (QoL).
Dr Sina Banijamali, Dr Oldooz Aloosh, Dr Vahan Moradians, Dr Tayeb Ramim, Dr Haleh Afshar,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (August & September 2023)
Abstract
Introduction: Patients with COVID-19 can have various and complex coagulation disorders that cause hypercoagulable conditions. Investigating the role of anticoagulants with different doses in the outcome of patients with COVID-19 seems to be needed. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of predicting factors of severe disease, including the number of lymphocytes, LDH, and the recovery status of patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Hazrat Rasool Akram (PBUH) Hospital. Study entry includes acute respiratory symptoms caused by COVID-19 disease (uncontrollable cough, dyspnea, prolonged medicine and blood saturation drop) along with lung involvement in chest spiral CT scan without injection, SARS RT-PCR–CO virus test was positive and transfer to intensive care unit (ICU) was indicated. Anticoagulant starting time, type and dose of anticoagulant received and duration of use were recorded. Two groups of prophylaxis dose, higher dose than prophylaxis (medium dose and therapeutic dose) were divided.
Results: Out of the total number of patients referred to Rasul Akram Hospital, 90 people (43 women (47.8%) and 47 men (52.22%)) participated in this study. The average hospitalization in the ICU was 13.50 ± 12.39 days and 17.18 ± 13.36 days in the hospital. Also, the duration of coagulant therapy was 17.13 ± 13.38 days. 53 patients (58.9%) received a prophylactic dose, 28 patients (31.1%) received a therapeutic dose, and 9 patients (10%) received a moderate dose of anticoagulant. Anticoagulant in 74 patients (82.2%) was unfractionated heparin (UFH) and in 16 cases (17.8%) low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The changes of LDH, number of lymphocytes, dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin and FDP according to the dose of anticoagulant assessed in the three groups of prophylaxis, treatment and no statistically significant difference. The mean of ICU admission days according to different doses of anticoagulant did not show a statistically significant difference.
Conclusions: Finally, the findings obtained from the study showed that the use of different doses of anticoagulant does not cause a difference in the level of LDH, number of lymphocytes, ferritin and FDP at different measurement times. Also, the length of stay in the hospital and the time of hospitalization in the intensive care unit did not differ between the groups receiving prophylactic anticoagulant, medium dose and therapeutic dose.
Mr Ali Bazgir, Dr Mohammad Fathi, Dr Rahim Mirnasouri, Ms Rezvan Afshar, Dr Raziyeh Rezaei,
Volume 26, Issue 4 (October & November 2023)
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Insomnia and sleep disorders are related to a decrease in physical and mental health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sleep deprivation on blood sugar, cortisol and insulin levels in athletes compared to non-athletes.
Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 14 healthy men participated in two groups of athletes (7 people) and non-athletes (7 people). One night of sleeplessness (8 hours) was applied to the subjects of both groups. According to the objectives of the research, blood samples were taken from all the subjects in two stages. The data were analyzed using the dependent t test for intra-group comparison and independent t test for inter-group comparison at a significance level of 5%. In conducting the research, the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, the general guidelines for ethics in research with human subjects and the regulations governing it were observed and the code of ethics was issued by the ethics committee of Lorestan University.
Findings: Insomnia did not lead to a significant difference between the blood sugar and insulin levels of athletes and non-athletes when faced with a (p≤0.05). Also, insomnia did not cause a significant difference in the amount of cortisol between two groups of athletes and non-athletes (p≤0.05). Conclusion: It seems that changes in blood sugar, cortisol and insulin are related to the duration of insomnia and are not affected in short-term and intermittent insomnia.
Keywords: Insomnia, blood sugar, cortisol, insulin, athlete, non-athlete
Reavan Afshar, Masoud Rahmati, Rahim Mirnasouri,
Volume 28, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Introduction: Considering the synthesis and secretion of irisin and BDNF from muscle tissue during exercise and the possible relationship of these factors with improving muscle strength and performance, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of strength training on muscle strength, body fat percentage, irisin, and BDNF in inactive middle-aged women.
Methods: In a semi-experimental study, 20 inactive middle-aged women (mean age 37.70 ± 5.91 years, weight 79.80 ± 5.82 kg) were selected and randomly assigned to two strength training groups (n = 10) and control groups (n = 10). The training group performed 12 weeks of strength training, three sessions per week at an intensity of 65 to 80% of maximum strength. Then, blood samples were taken using ELISA to measure irisin and BDNF. Independent t-test and Pearson correlation test were used to analyze the data. The significance level (P ≤ 0.05) was considered.
Results: Strength training significantly increased serum irisin concentration (P = 0.035) and serum BDNF concentration (P = 0.058) and also considerably decreased body fat percentage (P = 0.058) in middle-aged women. There was also a positive and significant relationship between lower body strength and serum irisin levels (P = 0.040). The Results from the Pearson correlation test indicate a significant positive relationship between BDNF and upper body strength (P = 0.038).
Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study, it seems that increased secretion of serum irisin and BDNF hormones is related to increased muscle strength following strength training in middle-aged individuals.
