The effect of Short-term Plyometric Training Program on Sprint, Strength, Power and Agility Performance in non-athletic Men

Plyometric training to increase physical ability and leads to increase of muscles power. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of short term plyometric training program on sprint, strength, and power and agility performance in non-athletic men. In this research, 40 non-athletic men (year 18-23) participated. The participants were chosen randomly and they participated in four tests strength (Swedish swimming, sit-ups), power (vertical jumps, Horizontal jumps), agility (Illinois Agility Test, T Agility Test) and 30 meters speed. The participants were divided into two groups, i.e. experimental (plyometric training) and control group (did not perform PT training). They participated in the training for 5 weeks and each week 1 session and each session 90 minutes. The results of the study revealed that in experimental groups, significant increase observed in Swedish swimming, horizontal jumps test and also significant decrease observed in 30 meters speed and test in comparison with control group (p-value of the respectively 0.001, 0.02, 0.00). The differences were significant not observed of agility test in comparison with control group. Conclusion: Therefore, it seems that plyometric training have been effective on the physical preparation indices and can improve the non athletes’ performance

Allocation of Cardiovascular and Internal Emergency Patients in Shiraz Emergency Stations: presenting the optimal pattern using transportation model

Background: Healthcare authorities, in all around the world, are faced with resources limitations and limitless needs of citizens. Therefore, optimal resources allocation, particularly in the health sector and emergency system, seems to be of great importance. The present study aimed to determine the optimality rate of patients' distribution to hospitals by emergency stations based on the transportation model. Methods: In the current descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study, three required data including the number of patients transferred from the emergency stations to the state hospitals, the average distance between the incident place and the state hospitals and the number of beds in the emergency departments were determined. Then, the transportation model was created based on the above data. Afterwards, the model was put in the LINGO software and the optimal results were obtained. Results: The data provided by the Central Emergency Unit showed that from Sep. 2009 to March 2010, the number of transferred patients had been 4233 to Namazi, 1087 to Faghihi, 1999 to Beheshti, and 14 to Ali-e-Asghar hospitals. After modeling by putting the model in the LINGO software, the number of patients’ allocation were determined 584 for Namazi, 1529 for Faghihi, 3600 for Beheshti, and 1620 for Ali-e-Asghar hospitals. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, the majority of patients should be transferred to Beheshti and Ali-e-Asghar hospitals. Therefore, it is required that the mentioned hospitals be improved regarding their human resources and medical equipment. Keywords: Optimal allocation, Emergency, Transportation mode

Differential Regulation of NSC Phenotype and Genotype by Chronically Activated Microglia Within Cocultures

© 2016 The Royal Society of Chemistry. Under disease or injury conditions in the central nervous system (CNS), activated microglia release cytokines and chemokines to modulate the microenvironment and influence tissue remodeling. To exploit the full potential of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation approaches, a permissive microenvironment needs to be created for their survival, homing and differentiation. To investigate the role of chronically activated microglia in the fate of NSCs, spontaneously immortalized murine microglial cells (SIM-A9) were cocultured with embryonic murine cortical NSCs on 2D substrates or within 3D gels. Standalone NSC cultures served as controls. Cytokines and chemokines released by NSCs and SIM-A9 cells in standalone and cocultures were quantified. Coculturing with SIM-A9 cells suppressed NSC viability, neurite outgrowth, neural differentiation and TUJ1 gene expression, and promoted glia formation in both 2D and 3D cultures, over a 10-day period. The seven most-abundantly released analytes by microglia (MCP-1, MIP2, G-CSF, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) were tested for their individual effects on NSCs, to investigate if the outcomes in cocultures were due to the synergistic effects of analytes or the influence of any individual analyte. All the seven analytes significantly suppressed cell survival compared to controls, but exposure to MIP-1β, IL-6, or MCP-1 enhanced neurite outgrowth and neural lineage commitment. Results attest to (i) the strong role of activated microglia in regulating NSC fate, (ii) the utility of selective analytes released by activated microglia in promoting neurogenesis and neuritogenesis, and (iii) the need to protect transplanted NSCs from the host inflammatory microenvironment to ensure their survival and functionality in treating neurological disorders

Transcriptional Regulation of Connective Tissue Metabolism Genes in Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare differences in expressions and relationships between key genes involved in extracellular matrix metabolism and tissue cellularity in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods: A total of 80 biopsies (anterior cuff, posterior cuff, and/or leading edge) were obtained from 30 women: n = 10 premenopausal without POP (controls), n = 10 premenopausal with POP, and n = 10 postmenopausal with POP. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to assess gene expression of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1), collagen types I (COL1) and III (COL3), relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), matrix metallopeptidase 2, and TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitors 2 and 3. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess cellularity of the connective tissue layer. Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation, or linear regression analyses were used, as appropriate. Results: Bone morphogenetic protein 1 expression was significantly up-regulated in patients with POP compared with controls. Bone morphogenetic protein 1 expression was correlated with COL1 expression in all groups but only correlated with TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 3 expression in controls. Similarly, COL3 expression was correlated with RXFP1 expression in women with POP but not in controls. The degree of dependence (slope of the regression line) between COL1 and COL3 expressions was significantly elevated in premenopausal women with POP compared with the other 2 groups. The slopes between COL1-COL3, COL3–matrix metallopeptidase 2, COL1-RXFP1, and COL3-RXFP1 expressions were significantly lower in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women with POP. No differences were found in overall tissue cellularity. Conclusions: Bone morphogenetic protein 1 expression may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of POP. The finding that BMP1 expression was correlated with COL1 expression in all groups suggests a conserved association between BMP1 and collagen synthesis in the vaginal wall. The elevated slope between COL1 and COL3 expressions may be associated with early (premenopausal) development of POP. The expression of RXFP1 in postmenopausal women and its altered intergene regulation suggests a role for RXFP1 in connective tissue metabolism outside pregnancy

Transcriptional Regulation of Connective Tissue Metabolism Genes in Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare differences in expressions and relationships between key genes involved in extracellular matrix metabolism and tissue cellularity in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods: A total of 80 biopsies (anterior cuff, posterior cuff, and/or leading edge) were obtained from 30 women: n = 10 premenopausal without POP (controls), n = 10 premenopausal with POP, and n = 10 postmenopausal with POP. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to assess gene expression of bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1), collagen types I (COL1) and III (COL3), relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), matrix metallopeptidase 2, and TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitors 2 and 3. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to assess cellularity of the connective tissue layer. Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation, or linear regression analyses were used, as appropriate. Results: Bone morphogenetic protein 1 expression was significantly up-regulated in patients with POP compared with controls. Bone morphogenetic protein 1 expression was correlated with COL1 expression in all groups but only correlated with TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 3 expression in controls. Similarly, COL3 expression was correlated with RXFP1 expression in women with POP but not in controls. The degree of dependence (slope of the regression line) between COL1 and COL3 expressions was significantly elevated in premenopausal women with POP compared with the other 2 groups. The slopes between COL1-COL3, COL3–matrix metallopeptidase 2, COL1-RXFP1, and COL3-RXFP1 expressions were significantly lower in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women with POP. No differences were found in overall tissue cellularity. Conclusions: Bone morphogenetic protein 1 expression may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of POP. The finding that BMP1 expression was correlated with COL1 expression in all groups suggests a conserved association between BMP1 and collagen synthesis in the vaginal wall. The elevated slope between COL1 and COL3 expressions may be associated with early (premenopausal) development of POP. The expression of RXFP1 in postmenopausal women and its altered intergene regulation suggests a role for RXFP1 in connective tissue metabolism outside pregnancy

Determination of Technical Efficiency and Optimum Size of Rice Farms in Mazandaran Province (Case study: Fereydunkenar County)

A reason for the success of the agricultural sector in developed countries is the regulation of farm size as it allows for the scale economy of production. Considering that the size of agricultural production units should be specifically determined based on the crop and the area where it is produced, this study aims to determine the optimum size of rice farms in Fereydunkenar County, Mazandaran Province. So, 198 farmers were randomly interviewed in 2014. The results show that the optimal economic size of the farms in the study area is 1.949 ha, 43% larger than the average cultivation area in the region. The results of the technical efficiency using the Stochastic Nonparametric Envelopment of Data model (StoNED) also show that paddy size has a direct correlation with the efficiency of these units in the studied area and production in larger farms is more economical and efficient. Therefore, it is suggested to consider plans to encourage rice farmers to establish cooperatives and change their farm management style from small farm owning to integrated management