INVESTIGATING LOWER LIMB STRENGTH AND STATIC BALANCE IN ELITE GYMNASTS AND WRESTLERS WITH NON- ATHLETES

The purpose of this study was to compare centre of gravity deviance to difference surfaces for adolescent male elite gymnasts and wrestlers with non-athletes. Subjects were asked to maintain balance in four standing postures: standing with open eyes and close eyes, standing with right leg and left leg. Quadriceps muscle and posterior muscle leg strength was collected with a dynamometer. There was difference in static balance in standing one leg (left) in end tasks. There were no significant differences in static balance in other tasks. Posterior muscle leg strength in elite athletes was significantly greater than non- athlete. There was no significant difference in quadriceps muscle. Gymnasts can decrease anterior-posterior and medial-lateral deviance on one leg to use vision feedback and proprioception

Comparison of food intake in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy individuals – A hospital-based case-controlled study

ObjectivesNutritional factors affect the incidence, severity of symptoms and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the role of specific nutritional factors remains largely unknown in MS. We conducted this hospital-based case-controlled study to investigate the association between dietary intake and risk of MS.Methods: This study was conducted on 93 MS patients and 94 age-matched controls. MS was diagnosed based on 2010 McDonald criteria and Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Dietary intake was assessed by using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval of MS was calculated in different food item groups using multiple logistic regression models adjusted for potentially confounding variables and compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference between age (34.62 ±9.68vs. 33.96±8.75) and BMI (23.96 ±4.07 vs. 24.47 ±4.07) of MS and control group respectively. Higher intake of processed meat (OR (95% CI)) = (2.07(1.18-3.63) and non-processed meat (1.38(1.13-1.68)) was found in the MS group compared with the control. Conclusion: Higher intake of processed meat and non-processed meat is associated with increased risk of MS. Further studies on the probable role of these nutritional factors in the pathogenesis of MS are suggested.

Parasites and chronic renal failure.

Suppression of the human immune system results in an increase in susceptibility to infection by various infectious agents. Conditions such as AIDS, organ transplantation and chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) are the most important cause of insufficient immune response against infections. Long term renal disorders result in uremia, which can suppress human immune system. Parasitic infections are one of the most important factors indicating the public health problems of the societies. These infections can be more hostile and life threatening in susceptible individuals than in the normal people. In these patients some parasitic infections such as blastocystiosis, cryptosporidiosis and toxoplasmosis have been reported to be more prevalent. This review aimed to give an overview about parasitic infections in patients with renal disorders

The Effects of Inorganic Nitrate on Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes: The Protocol of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background and Aim: Decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) in type 2 diabetes contributes to disrupted pathways of glucose/insulin homeostasis and progression of long-term complications. Due to its ability to convert to NO, inorganic nitrate (NO3) has been recently highlighted as a potential therapeutic agent in type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This research entails a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial that will be conducted on 62 type 2 diabetic patients. The patients will be randomized to receive a 6-month daily dose of NO3-rich beetroot powder (5 g/d, contains ~250 mg NO3) or placebo (5 g/d, contains <25 mg NO3). The primary outcome is glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The study is powered to detect a 0.75% reduction in HbA1c levels between the groups. Fasting serum glucose, serum insulin, lipid parameters, liver enzymes, thyroid function tests and complete blood count will be measured as secondary outcomes. The measurements will be done at baseline, and will be repeated in the fourth, twelfth and twenty-fourth weeks. Protocol of the study was approved by the ethical committee of the Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR.SBMU.ENDOCRINE.REC.1395.322). The trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with the following identification: IRCT20180409039246N1

Effects of implementing the Alexander technique on enjoying the sense of motherhood in the postpartum period

Background: The broad concept of maternal well-being includes psychological concepts, social aspects, and aspects of becoming a mother. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of implementing the Alexander technique on enjoying the sense of motherhood. Materials and Methods: This study was a clinical trial conducted in two phases. In the first phase, using the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, 226 mothers were asked to undergo a scale test of enjoying the sense of motherhood after childbirth. In the second phase, 88 pregnant women were divided into two experimental groups. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire about enjoying the sense of motherhood. Independent samples t-test, Mann–Whitney test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance test, Box test, and Levine test were used to analyze the data. Results: Results of this study showed that the mean scores of the constructs of enjoying pregnancy (P > 0.001), motherhood, and child care satisfaction (P > 0.001) in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group. Moreover, the construct of trusting their own abilities to cope with maternal duties (P > 0.01) did not show significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: The findings indicated that the Alexander technique can promote mothers' psychological well-being and their pleasure of becoming a mother and the related constructs. Results also revealed that using this technique, educating and recommending pregnant women to use this technique will be beneficial

The knowledge and attitudes of midwives regarding legal and religious commandments on induced abortion and their relationship with some demographic characteristics

Background: Induced abortion is an important medical issue. Knowledge and attitude of midwives regarding legal and religious commandments on induced abortion can be useful in confronting this issue. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of midwives of Isfahan regarding these rules and to find their relationship with demographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study. The study participants consisted of 189 midwives working in hospitals, health centers, private gynecology clinics, and university. Random quota sampling method was used. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using mean, frequency distribution tables, Pearson correlation, and Spearman′s coefficient. For all tests, an error of less than 0.05 was considered. Results: The majority of the participants had extremely low to moderate (73%) knowledge about the subject of the study. Their attitudes toward effective implementation of these rules were mostly extremely weak to moderate (68.72%). No correlation was observed between knowledge, age, work experience, and education. However, there was a relationship between the level of knowledge about these rules and the location of service. There was no significant correlation between attitude and demographic characteristics. Conclusion: Due to less knowledge of the midwives and their low attitude score in this regard, training them, improving their attitude toward these issues, and effective implementation of these laws are necessary. Therefore, by identifying the factors affecting the formation of attitudes and the level of knowledge, more constructive proceedings can be taken to promote them

Effect of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) extract in antioxidant status and intestinal morphology of pulmonary hypertensive chickens

Abstract Objectives The effects of dietary sage on the growth performance, antioxidant status, intestinal mucosa morphology, and pulmonary hypertensive response were investigated in broiler chickens with pulmonary hypertension. Methods Chicks (Ross 308) were reared under cold stress for 35 days and treated with 0.05% vitamin C (positive control) and 0 (control), 0.1 or 0.2% sage extracts, then performance, oxidant and antioxidant status, and intestinal morphology were evaluated. Results The index of pulmonary hypertension (RV:TV) was decreased, and weight gain (days 22–35) was increased in all treatments (except for sage 0.1%) compared with control (P < 0.05). Lipid peroxidation was decreased, whereas the activity of antioxidant enzymes (GPX, CAT, and SOD) was increased in the sage 0.2% group compared with control (P < 0.05). In the lung, SOD, CAT, and GPX transcripts were decreased in the sage 0.2% group compared with control (P < 0.05). In the right ventricle of the heart, SOD and CAT transcripts were increased in the sage 0.2% group compared with other groups of chickens, whereas GPX transcript was decreased (P < 0.05). The jejunal villus length in the chickens fed sage was significantly lower than in control (P < 0.05). The ileal villus width, villus surface area, and lamina proporia thickness in the chickens fed sage (0.2%) were increased compared with control (P < 0.05). Conclusions Dietary supplementation of sage (0.2%) could modulate pulmonary hypertensive response, improve antioxidant status (enzymatic activity), intestinal morphometry, and absorptive surface in the broiler chickens

Prevalence of toxoplasma gondii and the level of IL8 in patients with Celiac disease

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii infection is usually detected by using immunoglobulin IgG and IgM antibodies in different populations. This parasite is implicated in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease (CD). In the present study the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis and the level of IL8 in patients with Celiac disease were evaluated. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study in 2013, 150 patients with CD diagnosis were selected by using questionnaire and the presence of antibodies specific for Toxoplasma gondii (IgG, IgM) was detected by ELISA. On the other hand the level of IL8 was detected using available commercial kit. Results: patients (n=59, 39.9%) were positive for anti-toxoplasma IgG. On the other hand, only 2 of them were positive for IgM antibodies, which did not show statistical correlation to the disease (1.4%, P = 0.65). The mean level of IL8 was 176.38 (SD=191.79) in 150 CD patients, which did not show a statistical significant correlation between the mean level of IL8 and celiac disease (P=0.001). Conclusion: Like other studies showing that intestinal infection can help to develop celiac disease in susceptible individuals, our results also revealed that Toxoplasma gondii infection can increase the risk of developing celiac disease