Norms of anthropometric, body composition measures and prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban populations of Iran

زمینه و هدف: تدوین هنجارهای ملی برای اندازه‌های پیکری و ترکیب بدنی و نیز تعیین شیوع اضافه وزن و چاقی به دلیل ارتباط آن با بیماری‌های مزمن از ضروریات جوامع امروزی است. این پژوهش با هدف تهیه‌ی این هنجارها در جمعیت‌های شهری ایران طراحی و اجرا شد. روش بررسی: در این پژوهش مقطعی که از نوع توصیفی – تحلیلی بود، 991 نفر مرد و 1188 نفر زن با دامنه سنی 15 تا 64 سال به شیوه در دسترس از شهرهای اردبیل، اصفهان، اهواز، تهران، رشت، کرمان و مشهد فراخوان شدند. شاخص توده‌ی بدن (BMI)، دور کمر (WC)، نسبت دور کمر به لگن (WHR)، نسبت دور کمر به قد (WHtR) و درصد چربی بدن آزمودنی‌ها اندازه‌گیری شد. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های t مستقل، ضریب همبستگی جزیی تعدیل شده و تحلیل واریانس یک طرفه در نرم افزار SPSS تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته‌ها: با توجه به اندازه‌های BMI، 49 مردان و 53 زنان دارای اضافه وزن یا چاقی بودند که 2/10 مردان و 6/18 زنان چاق بودند. در هر گروه سنی، مردان درصد چربی کمتری نسبت به زنان داشتند (001/0>P). در هر دوی مردان و زنان شیوع اضافه وزن در میان رده‌ی سنی 49-40 سال و شیوع چاقی در رده‌ی سنی بالای 50 سال بیشتر از سنین دیگر بود. نتیجه‌گیری: یافته‌های پژوهش حاضر ضمن ارایه‌ی هنجارهای ملی، شیوع بالای اضافه وزن و چاقی عمومی و شکمی را در هر دو جنسیت در جمعیت‌های شهری ایران نشان داد که بیانگر لزوم ارزیابی‌های مستمر و ارایه‌ی برنامه‌های مداخله‌ای در جهت کنترل و پیشگیری از اختلال‌های مرتبط با چاقی مانند دیابت می‌باش

The Second to Fourth Digit Ratio in Elite and Non-Elite Greco-Roman Wrestlers

A low second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) has been reported to correlate with high performance and athletic potential of an individual in sport. It has been suggested that 2D:4D is a relatively weak predictor of strength and a stronger predictor of efficiency in aerobic exercise. Comparing extreme groups on a continuum of sports performance requiring high power (physical strength) output would be helpful to resolve this issue. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to compare the 2D:4D ratio of world-class elite Greco-Roman wrestlers (n = 10) taking part in Olympic fitness camps in 2013 with the 2D:4D ratio of non-elite collegiate wrestlers (n = 20), and age-matched sedentary males (n = 40). The 2D:4D ratios of elite wrestlers were lower compared to non-elite athletes (p < 0.01, right hand d = 1.70, left hand d = 1.67) and the control group (p < 0.0001, right hand d = 3.16, left hand d = 2.00). No significant differences were noted among the groups for right - left 2D:4D. We concluded that 2D:4D may discriminate between non-elite and world-class wrestlers. We also suggest that a low 2D:4D ratio could be linked to performance potential in wrestlers. As such, 2D:4D may provide additional information, which is valuable in determining the potential athleticism of an individual, when it is used in conjunction with other measures. © 2017 Editorial Committee of Journal of Human Kinetics 2017

Pancreatic beta cell protection/regeneration with phytotherapy

Although currently available drugs are useful in controlling early onset complications of diabetes, serious late onset complications appear in a large number of patients. Considering the physiopathology of diabetes, preventing beta cell degeneration and stimulating the endogenous regeneration of islets will be essential approaches for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The current review focused on phytochemicals, the antidiabetic effect of which has been proved by pancreatic beta cell protection/regeneration. Among the hundreds of plants that have been investigated for diabetes, a small fraction has shown the regenerative property and was described in this paper. Processes of pancreatic beta cell degeneration and regeneration were described. Also, the proposed mechanisms for the protective/regenerative effects of such phytochemicals and their potential side effects were discussed

Discovery of widespread transcription initiation at microsatellites predictable by sequence-based deep neural network

Using the Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) technology, the FANTOM5 consortium provided one of the most comprehensive maps of transcription start sites (TSSs) in several species. Strikingly, ~72% of them could not be assigned to a specific gene and initiate at unconventional regions, outside promoters or enhancers. Here, we probe these unassigned TSSs and show that, in all species studied, a significant fraction of CAGE peaks initiate at microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STRs). To confirm this transcription, we develop Cap Trap RNA-seq, a technology which combines cap trapping and long read MinION sequencing. We train sequence-based deep learning models able to predict CAGE signal at STRs with high accuracy. These models unveil the importance of STR surrounding sequences not only to distinguish STR classes, but also to predict the level of transcription initiation. Importantly, genetic variants linked to human diseases are preferentially found at STRs with high transcription initiation level, supporting the biological and clinical relevance of transcription initiation at STRs. Together, our results extend the repertoire of non-coding transcription associated with DNA tandem repeats and complexify STR polymorphism

Discovery of widespread transcription initiation at microsatellites predictable by sequence-based deep neural network

Using the Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) technology, the FANTOM5 consortium provided one of the most comprehensive maps of transcription start sites (TSSs) in several species. Strikingly, ~72% of them could not be assigned to a specific gene and initiate at unconventional regions, outside promoters or enhancers. Here, we probe these unassigned TSSs and show that, in all species studied, a significant fraction of CAGE peaks initiate at microsatellites, also called short tandem repeats (STRs). To confirm this transcription, we develop Cap Trap RNA-seq, a technology which combines cap trapping and long read MinION sequencing. We train sequence-based deep learning models able to predict CAGE signal at STRs with high accuracy. These models unveil the importance of STR surrounding sequences not only to distinguish STR classes, but also to predict the level of transcription initiation. Importantly, genetic variants linked to human diseases are preferentially found at STRs with high transcription initiation level, supporting the biological and clinical relevance of transcription initiation at STRs. Together, our results extend the repertoire of non-coding transcription associated with DNA tandem repeats and complexify STR polymorphism