Background: It is expected that affected people with diabetes will increase to 439 million in 2030, 15% of them are affected with chronic leg ulcer disease. Increasing number of researches implicate the positive influence of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the skin wound healing. Pentoxifylline is a xantin derivative that modifies or inhibits inflammatory factors, reduces blood viscosity, improves peripheral blood currency and increases oxygenation of tissues the In this study the effect of Pentoxifylline (PTX) on skin biomechanical indices in acute phase of skin wound healing in diabetic rat is in considerable interest.

Materials and Methods: It is an experimental- interventional study in which fourteen adult male wistar rats were divided into experimental group (n=7), receiving pentoxifyllineintraperitoneally and control group (n=7) receiving distilled water (DW). Diabeteswas induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin in both groups then full thickness incisional wound (20mm length) in identical pattern was made on the dorsum of rats. After 15 days a band of skin (4×60mm) containing wound was extracted and used to evaluate skin biomechanical indexes (work up to maximum force-Nm and Tensile strength= Rm-N/mm2). Results were analysed by SPSS software version 19 and K-S, Levens Test and Student SampleT-Test were used.

Results: Pentoxifylline administration improved skin biomechanical indices after 15 days after skin incisional wound. Differences between experimental and control’s indices were significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Pentoxifylline accelerated wound healing and improved tensile strength of skin in diabetic rats of experimental group.

Background: The average age of menarche varies from country to country due to regional variation and different factors, including genetic and environmental factors that affect the onset of menarch. This study performed to survey relationship between nutrition and physical activity with menarche age of girls in Ahvaz city.

Materials and Methods: This survey is a cross-sectional study that was conducted on 1249 female students 8-15 years in 2012- 2013 year. Participants were selected by random cluster sampling from 4areas and 16 elementry and middle and high schoolsin Ahvaz city. The data were collected based on interviews and questionnaire (food frequency and physical activity). After collecting the data, then they were encoded and analyzed by SPSS16 software  and descriptive and analytic statistics.

Results: The mean of age at menarche in girls in Ahvaz was 11.86±1.07 and age at menarche was not associated with nutrition and physical activity.

Conclusion: Based on these findings, significant association between nutrition and physical activity and age at menarche (p<0.001)was not observed.

  Background: The effect of exercise training on body weight and visceral fat have been examined in several studies, whereas those of aerobic training along with the different dosages of intramuscular vitamin D on body weight, visceral fat and food intake are unknown. The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of aerobic training and different doses of intramuscular vitamin D on body weight, visceral fat and food intake in female Wistar rats.

  Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, seventy-two female Wistar rats were divided into 9 with 8 rats in each group, one group: aerobic training (3 days/week for 8 weeks), three groups: aerobic training and vitamin D supplementation (in high, moderate and low doses ), three groups: vitamin D supplementation ( in high, moderate and low doses ) and two control groups. One-way ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA test were used to analyze the data.

  Results: Results showed that body weight and visceral fat in aerobic training with high dose vitamin D supplementation group was significantly lower than other groups. Also, the mean food intake in three groups of (aerobic training with low dose vitamin D supplementation , low dose vitamin D supplementation and control) w as significantly higher than other groups.

  Conclusion: It seems that aerobic training with high dose vitamin D compared to using each of the strategies is more effective in decreasing body weight, visceral fat in female Wistar rats .

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and change in lifestyle represents a successful strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the present study investigated the combined effects of regulae Pilates training and Apium Graveolens seed supplement on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in sedentary women.

Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 28 healthy sedentary woman with age average 31±5.5 years old are selected in a convenience sampling way and randomely divided into and control, exercise, supplement and exercise+supplement groups. Pilates exercise was consisted of exercise movements at 50% to 80% maximal heart rate in, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Supplement and exercise+supplement groups consumed 1.3 gr Apium Graveolens seed capsule three times a day after meals. Fasting blood samples were collected before and 48 hours after the last interventions. MCP-1 and CRP levels were measured by ELISA method.

Results: Eight weeks of Pilates exercise, supplementation and the combined intervention were associated with a significant increase in MCP-1 and CRP levels (p<0.05). Furthermore Pilates exercise and combined intervention were associated with significantly greater increases in percent changes of the MCP-1 and CRP compared to supplement group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the protective effect of Pilates exercise and Apium Graveolens seed supplementation non-drug interventions might in part be due to suppression of the inflammatory processes.

Background: Chronic kidney disease as an important risk factor is associated with some disorders which are key causes of death and disability in older people. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the combined effect of regular aerobic exercise with garlic extract on renal apoptosis regulatory factors in aged rats with chronic kidney disease.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, 42 aged male Wistar rats(48-52 weeks) were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups: control, doxorubicin, doxorubicin-salin, doxorubicin- garlic, doxorubicin - exercise, doxorubicin –garlic-exercise(combined). Chronic kidney disease was induced by a single subcutaneous injection 8.5 mg/kg of doxorubicin. Swimming training was programmed 3 days /week, 30 min/day for 8 weeks. Both the doxorubicin garlic and combined groups with garlic extract were administered by garlic gavage at a dose of 2.5 g/kg. The renal Bax and Bcl-2 levels were evaluated by ELIZA method. A one-way analysis of variance was used to data analysis (p<0.05).

Results: The results showed that induced chronic kidney disease was associated with a significant increase on Bax and a decrease on Bcl-2 in aged rats. Also, 8 weeks swimming training, garlic supplementation and the combined intervention significantly reversed these changes. Furthermore, no significant difference have been observed in the effect of these interventions on Bax and Bcl-2 in aged rats with chronic kidney disease.

Conclusion: It seems that the use of non-pharmacological treatment methods such as exercise training, garlic extract supplement, and combination of the both interventions may be effective in reducing apoptosis resulted from chronic kidney disease in aged rats.

Abstract

Background: Candida albicans is still the main etiologic agent of candidiasis. However, infections of non-albicans Candida species are increasing. Candida dubliniensis is similar to C. albicans phenotypically and must be identified due to the better management of infection. The aim of the present study is to defferentiate and identify Candida species by Duplex PCR for getting an epidemiological data of Candida species among clinical specimens.

Materials and Methods: DNA was extracted using phenol-chloroform method from fresh colonies. Internal Transcribed Spacer region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Based on differences of bands sizes on agarose gel electrophoresis, species were identified.

Results: Ninety four out of 100 patients (49 males and 51 females) had predisposing factors in the present study. Diabetes (73.4%), use of antibiotic (6.3%), vitamin deficiency (4.3%) were the main predisposing factors. The most specimens belonged to mouth (75%), vagina (5%), and blood (4%). All isolates were identified as C. albicans.

Conclusion: Duplex PCR is a rapid and precise method for the detection and differentiation of Candida species carefully, and in this method, phenotypic tests like germ-tube and chlamydoconidia production, as well as biochemical tests are not required for clinical laboratories that have limited resources and time for response to the patients, and it can replace with the traditional methods.

Abstract

Background: Nanoparticles are used in various applications due to unique mechanical and physicochemical properties such as their increased surface area to volume ratio and quantum effects. This study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of zinc oxide nanopaticles on hematological and biochemical parameters BALB/c mice.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 28 adult male mice BALB/c, were divided into four groups (one control group and three experimental groups). The mice in the experimental groups orally received Zinc Oxide nanoparticles with doses of 50, 100 and 300 mg/kg for 14 days. The control group received distillated water only. On 15th day, some hematological and biochemical parameters were studied on the blood samples collected.

Results: Results showed that Zinc Oxide nanoparticles cause changes in blood cells. In high concentration, nanoparticles increased some of factors such as white blood cells, hemoglubin, MCV and neutrophil and besides decreased amount of RBCs, pLTs, hematocrit, lymphocytes, glucose and kratenin significantly (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings showed that zinc oxide nanoparticles cause harmful effects due to the considerable variations in hematological and serum parameters in mice  in a dose-dependent way.

Abstract

Background: Fetal hemoglobin (α2γ2) is the main oxygen transport protein in the human fetus. Fetal hemoglobin is nearly completely replaced by hemoglobin A, except in a few thalassemia cases and sickle cell anemia. Several studies have indicated that expression of γ-globin might be regulated post-transcriptionally. Small non-coding RNA called microRNAs which target mRNA can lead to translated repression or mRNA decay. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of miR-940 up-regultion on γ-chain gene expression and erythroid markers in k562 cell line.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, k562 cells were cultured in RPMI1640. Then pre miR-940 was transfected by electroporation method in k562 cell line. In 3, 7 and 14 days, RNA was extracted and cDNA synthesized in selected days. Up-regulation of miR-940 was confirmed by miRNA Quantitative real time PCR and then the expression γ of chains and GATA-1 was investigated by QRT-PCR. Finally, erythroid markers were checked by flow cytometry.

Results: In 3, 7 and 14 days after transfection, the GATA-1 and γ-chain expression were increased in comparison with untransfected cells. Also, the expression of erythroid markers was increased.

Conclusion: The data show that up-regulation of miR-940 has a role in the increase of γ-chain gene expression in k-562 cell line. We suggest that miR-940 may be a significant potent therapeutic target for increasing Hb F level. Patients with sickle cell anemia and β-thalassemia are suitable candidate for treatment in this way.